We can do better
The small business space isn’t as diverse or inclusive as it should be. And it’s on each of us to change that.
I’m not proud that it’s taken a global wake up call for me to come to that conclusion, particularly as someone who waves the ‘value driven’ flag, but I am desperate for that conclusion to turn into action and ultimately, change.
You may have seen over on Instagram that I’ve begun putting together an inclusion and diversity policy for my business. It feels pivotal in acknowledging the role I play in creating the broken narrative and getting clear on how I’m going to change that.
Incase you haven’t seen, here’s what that currently looks like:
I WILL
Not speak on panels, feature on podcasts or host workshops where people like me are overrepresented.
Continue to diversify the voices and perspectives shared on the podcast.
Donate mine and Emily’s time to charities supporting black women in business.
Offer scholarship places within each coaching intake, group programme and retreat, favouring those from marginalised backgrounds.
Research businesses I pay, collaborate with and promote to understand their diversity and inclusion practices.
Grow a team who bring different perspectives to mine.
MY REFLECTIONS
I shouldn’t be 4 years in and writing my first inclusion and diversity policy. I think I’d always assumed that they were a ‘big business' thing. Now I realise that, regardless of the size of your corner of the world, the point is that you have one. And a policy like this determines what you're going to do with it.
Whilst I am by no means an expert I do want to share my experience of putting this together in the hope that you, presumably a white business owner, will do the same. For full disclosure I have worked with a diversity coach who has helped develop the public wording and flesh out elements of the policy.
So onto my reflections...
Make it sustainable
Turning this from a moment into a movement takes consistent and ongoing action, so your policy needs to be created with sustainability in mind. Overwhelming yourself with 379 actions and burning out after day 2 doesn’t do any good, so think carefully about what you’re committing to. With that being said, I was surprised to reflect that 4/6 of my policies are about changing what I’m already doing, not doing more. So don’t undervalue the impact of making small shifts in the action you already take.
Make it tangible
It’s a priority to me that my policies are obvious. This is so I can hold myself accountable to what I’m committing to and so that others can understand the action I’m taking. Simply saying ‘I’ll do better’ or ‘I’m looking at what I can do differently’ isn’t enough. Make them so obvious and actionable you can't avoid them.
Make it sacrificial
The reality of putting this policy into place isn’t glamorous. It may involve turning down opportunities, saying no to income and cutting ties with those whose services I pay for. Promoting diversity and inclusion will likely involve you sacrificing something in return. Don't shy away from it - that is how we give up power.
MY ACTION NOW
So if those are the policies which I’m working towards - how am I taking action this week to get there?
Create a page on my website to share my inclusion and diversity policies, alongside an update of where I’m at in implementing each of them.
Begin researching and reaching out to charities for me and Emily to support - if you know of any, send them my way!
List out all of the brands and businesses I pay and promote, ready to audit their policies and decide whether I want to continue supporting them in line with what I find.
This isn’t a tick a box thing. This isn’t a trend or a short term focus. This is the new normal for my business. And I'm going to keep letting you in on it and in turn, encouraging you to do the same.
I truly believe that we have a long overdue opportunity here to acknowledge our privilege, harness our influence (however small) and create real change.
If you’ve got any questions, thoughts or want to talk this through please know my inbox is open. Just hit reply to this email.