Actions Speak Louder

February 28, 2022
It’s one thing to post inclusivity-forward social media posts and quite another to work meaningfully toward a diverse and equitable workplace, argues Singh (A Smart Girl’s Guide), founder of social enterprise organization Flying Elephant, in this refreshing guide. The toll of working in mostly white workplaces can be heavy for employees from marginalized groups, and, as such, it’s up to leadership to do a healthy examination of a company’s inclusivity efforts, Singh writes. To that end, she lays out her “Dinner Table exercise,” in which readers face a list of privileges and circle which apply to them, then “flip them so they can become actionable items that achieve greater inclusivity” in a neighboring column. For example, a leader might use their privilege to “involve people from less welcomed social identity groups, inviting them to social functions” and “centering their opinion during meetings.” Singh also lays out plans for recruiting (aim for higher diversity on the team that writes job descriptions), hiring (try redacted résumés), retention (flexible scheduling helps), and meetings (be mindful of planning). Her advice is concrete and actionable, and in the end, readers will feel like they’ve attended an especially informative and effective workshop. In a crowded field, this stands out.

April 1, 2022
For business leaders lamenting the lack of diversity in their candidate pool, Singh lays out a pathway forward addressing recruitment, interviewing, onboarding, and retention. Thought exercises guide readers and presumably their teams through personal reflection and identification of problematic workplace conditions, promoting greater inclusivity in conscious thinking. With a two-pronged approach, Singh uses "Personal Development" to allow readers to become aware of personal professional biases as well as policy-based obstacles. By guiding readers through this type of reflection, Singh probes unconscious biases and leads to understanding of the damaging outcomes that result when we allow internal biases to be unaddressed and data-based evidence to be ignored. "Organizational Development" digs into opportunities for systemic change and illustrates how these improvements positively impact economic outcomes. Actions Speak Louder is a valuable and accessible addition to the growing body of work providing concrete guidance in recognizing and responding to the need for intentional, ongoing efforts to improve workplace Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) culture.

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