Entering New Spaces

Photo by “My Life Through A Lens” on Unsplash

One of the best ways to deconstruct your own bias is to have meaningful interactions with diverse people. But how to expand your cultural horizons? Attend an Employee Resource Group (ERG) meeting at your company. These groups, originally designed to create a welcoming environment for underrepresented groups, help create diverse, inclusive environments. Because these ERGs build support and spread awareness, they’re often a safe space for learning.

Once you breakdown your own bias and decide you want to be an ally, you can take a leadership role in creating welcoming communities. Allies are supportive people who are members of an advantage group that work to eliminate oppressive beliefs in themselves and their communities. If you are straight you can be an ally to LGBTQ community, if you are abled-bodied, you can be an ally to the disabled community. Sounds good? Ok, let’s get to work.

While it may seem daunting to attend a new ERG meeting or explore a different cultural experience, it doesn’t have to be. Here are some ways to help you get the most out of your experience:

1. Be a useful ally: When you attend an ERG meeting to understand the experience of others, there are a couple of rules of etiquette. 1) Reach out to the group to see how you can attend a meeting in a respectful way. 2) If you are coming into the group with privilege, come to listen and do not expect to participate unless you are invited. 3) Remember it is not your place to lead, but to listen, learn and support.
2. Focus on learning: If and when you decide to reach out to an ERG to better understand experiences different from yours, make sure you are there to listen, absorb, and reflect. Remember, you are not there to try to change the group you are reaching out too. It is extremely important you respect the space and agenda they have created and act as a respectful observer.
3. Listen to be changed: We so often listen to find confirmation, positive or negative, with our existing thoughts and beliefs. How often do we listen to have our perspective changed? When people are sharing their ideas or stories, try to ignore that confirmation bias, listen to learn instead. Don’t feel rushed to respond, if you don’t understand ask for clarification.
4. Generosity of Interpretation: If someone says something that seems completely off base, give them the space to clarify what they mean. We often assume we all share definitions, but it’s often not the case.
5. Respect: Whether you agree or disagree with someone’s interpretation of their experience, it is important to respect their intelligence, honesty, and humanity.
6. Call in not out: If you are inclined to point out areas of bias to others, make sure you do it in a way people can learn. Calling out bias behavior does not help people learn, instead, try to explain your point of view in a way that helps understanding rather than defensiveness.