UNBIAS

CHAPTER 13Driving Change

There are three layers to driving change and making it stick. Leaders are appropriately successful at looking outward to two of the layers and driving change within their team and their company, but when it comes to self‐reflection and looking inward, it is there we find the most resistance.

Change takes courage and it's easy to challenge others on their behaviors and point out what's wrong with company policies, but when it comes time to see how we might ourselves be contributing to the problem, we avoid that level of feedback. Taking personal responsibility for the outcomes makes us committed to achieving our goals. It also makes us accountable and it improves our odds of success.

It is why the hiring of a Chief Diversity Officer should be done with full transparency that the job of the CDO is to partner with leadership in the implementation of a DEI strategy, not to be the only owner and driver of an initiative.

In June 2020, I penned an article for Fast Company magazine that addressed some of the “check the box” activities that companies employ. Measure how many women we have in leadership – check! Attend a career fair at a school with higher diversity than our traditional universities we visit – check! Add the only Black person in management to our diversity committee – check! Unfortunately, when it comes to ensuring there is accountability for embedding diversity and inclusion into company actions, senior leaders begin pointing fingers at one ...