The Courage to Stand - Handling Objections to DEI

Balance, readiness and change. We say we want to embrace DEI, but are we ready? In order to create a workplace where we can all thrive, we must walk the fine line between personal and organizational readiness for change. Shawntal Mallory, attorney, professor, and Executive Director of the Nebraska Legal Diversity Council, joins me today to talk about the challenges and objections to discussing DEI in the workplace. You’ll hear us discussing key ideas, such as:The pendulum swing. It’s been observed that one step forward equals another step back when it comes to civil rights movements in the US. Whenever gains are achieved, there’s always some kind of blowback. Moving from transactional DEI to transformative DEI. People tend to lean into the discomfort of addressing inequity in the workplace, preferring DEI to be transactional like they’re checking off a box. What to do when faced with objection to DEI work in your organization. Change of this kind is always met with resistance. There will be daggers thrown at you, and you need to have the fortitude and support to withstand them. What DEI really is. Stop referring to DEI as a program - it is a journey, a part of how you lead and who you are as a leader. In the words of former President Obama, “It’s a relay race.” You run the race until you can’t anymore, then pass the baton onto the next generation. ResourcesShawntal Mallory on LinkedIn