Equity in Leadership
Leaders who are equity-driven want to ensure that everyone receives what they need to be successful. What is needed for success is typically different from one individual to the next.
For example, an employee who works better tucked away in a quiet office by themself might not be as successful as an employee who needs more of a communal space to interact with others, if the workspace does not accommodate those needs.
Equity-focused leaders seek out inequities within their organizations to maximize productivity, innovation, and creativity among those they lead. When I think about equity-focused leaders, three characteristics instantly come to mind: they advocate for addressing inequities, they cultivate diverse experiences, and they embrace accountability.
1. Advocate for addressing inequities: equity-focused leaders are proactive in identifying inequities. They seek out these inequities to find solutions to improve their organizational culture. The key is they are proactive. They don’t wait for inequities to show up, they seek them out.
2. Cultivate diverse experiences: equity-focused leaders create a safe space for employees to share their experiences. A great method to use is storytelling. Storytelling is an ageless method of communicating our experiences. By learning from one another, we can begin to learn each other’s cultural worldview and why we make the decisions we make.
3. Embrace accountability: equity-focused leaders don’t run from being held accountable; they embrace it. They lead by example. Diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) work will never become an actuality until accountability is established. Accountability starts with the leader and trickles to their team. Everyone must be accountable for their own actions and how they treat others.
When asked to think about equity in leadership, these three characteristics immediately came to mind. While there are others, these three are a great way for you to start thinking about your leadership as you embrace equity in your organization.