The power of discussion and collaboration for EDI progress
Times are challenging for equity, diversity and inclusion work. Globally, there is a shift to the right and pressure from a range of directions to slow down, pause or stop our work to ensure everyone is able to thrive and progress in our workplaces. In addition, there are very real financial challenges for individuals and businesses of all kinds.
So how do we keep the work we know is essential going?
In our previous blog, we said that networking and collaboration would be a feature for 2025, and so far, we’ve been right. For our clients, creating opportunities for the discussion of topics and collaboration is the norm, and they tell us that it’s the talking and discussion of how to resolve issues together that is the most valuable part of that partnership. This isn’t accidental, as experts in this field, we know that discussion, even of the really hard things and how they have made us feel, has been the difference between performative work and impactful work.
Discussion as a means to identifying our successes
When we are operational and in the work, it is easy to forget how far you’ve come. What’s more, you can focus on what you haven’t done which feeds into an internal narrative that you’re not doing enough and not good enough.
Identifying successes is so powerful, and speaking them out loud to others makes them even more powerful. You get to see the distance travelled and the people listening can learn from you. When you hear other people talking about their successes you will be surprised how this triggers your memory of additional things that you have achieved.
Discussion as a means for personal reflection and learning
There is no doubt that this work brings up a lot for you. There are difficult situations and topics to navigate and mistakes are going to be made, intentions aren’t received the way you wanted them to be, and maybe some aspects intersect with your identity and are triggering for you.
Discussion with others in a non-judgemental space with people who have walked in your shoes is incredibly helpful. With the help of others and an experienced facilitator, you can reflect on situations and feelings, learn more deeply about the nuance of topics and turn that reflection and learning into new actions to make a difference. Growth happens when things are hard.
During discussions, people share things they’ve seen, books they have read, podcasts they have listened to and more. As a result, low stakes, free and useful learning takes place for those in the discussion, and can be shared with others outside of it.
Discussion as a means for change
We don’t believe in talking shops. Talking on its own may be supportive and therapeutic, but in itself it doesn’t lead to change.
We support our clients to identify meaningful actions turning talk into doing. As facilitators, we are able to suggest when actions perhaps don’t go far enough, how they can be implemented, what support might be needed and where to get it.
Knowing what we know about the power of discussion and collaboration, we created a new offer which addresses the difficulty of reduced finances because in terms of our values, we don’t want real financial challenges to be the reason fairness and meeting the needs of others stops.
We created Inclusion Impact Discussions for people who have any responsibility for implementing equity, diversity, inclusion and access related action plans and strategies. You might work alone or be part of an organisation, you might have a People or Culture role, you could be a freelancer, you could be part of an employee resource group – we all have valuable perspectives and learn from each other.
Inclusion Impact Discussions are:
Five one-hour sessions delivered one per month for just £150
An opportunity to reflect on EDI related challenges and opportunities
Supported by a facilitator who is an EDI leader and expert
Discursive and solution focussed with the aim of talking about and sharing a person(s)/ organisations successful strategies as well as their challenges so that together progress continues to be made
A balance between peer support and advisory from an expert facilitator
Guided by participants and responsive to need
A chance to learn from other sectors
If this feels like it would be useful to you, join the waitlist.
