The work of developing, implementing, and tracking equity-centered interventions is an ever-moving target. A merging of different disciplines, built on the practice of finding solutions to problems designed to survive generations. Complexity layered in nuance… and there are many paths to embark on in this journey of undoing. With endless right ways to press on, are there any wrong ones? Perhaps there should be.
Why It Matters
As DEI leaders, we carry a lot of influence, navigating and advising on subject matter most are not fluent in. We’re trusted to pull business levers intended to impact targeted areas, not necessarily held accountable for ensuring that the cost to the people doesn’t outweigh the benefit to the business. In other words, without accountability (and safety nets of support and subject matter expertise) we risk doing more harm than good.
Setting New Standards
If there was a list of absolute, non-negotiable, basic expectations adopted as industry standard, would it elevate the integrity of this work to be more consistently impactful?
One area that certainly could use standardization is assessment before action. Unlike the management of many other business priorities, scattered stats such as “number of trainings” and “diversity head counts” are very commonly accepted DEI performance metrics. Yet, if these measures remain untied to specific outcomes, they have shown to make little sustainable impact across industries. Realistically, how could we be impactful without intention?
Another area that could use standardization is modeling of cultural humility such as expressing curiosity over ego. As DEI practitioners, if we move through this work with the same hyper-competitive individualistic energy commonly found in workplaces, are we doing good work? How might workplaces be transformed if we raised the bar to expect prioritization of practices that promote psychological safety? By centering folks who are most impacted, we elevate the uprooting of harmful (and even violent) interactions experienced by many. Both long awaited, and long overdue.
Our Path Forward
Everything we do has an impact, which is why raising DEI standards is crucial. Oppressive policies and practices have been formally codified and socially reinforced widely, resulting in history repeating itself over and over. More than ever, progress is too precious to be dragged into mediocrity, we must resist the allure of disjointed efforts, bare minimum expectations, and even less support.
As you imagine possibilities … what standards would you propose for DEI spaces and practitioners?
