Reflecting on diversity in leadership: Safety, confidence and different perspectives to empower teams
Reflecting on my 27 years in the technology industry, many managing people, as a woman who also identifies as LGBTQIA+, I can clearly see that my leadership has been formed by key aspects of my own life experience. The "lessons" I learned through these experiences have been highly valuable in my career and personal life. I have translated them into actions and attitudes that I share with my teams in the hopes of instilling in them the confidence to embrace their own paths while sharing their unique perspectives and voice.
People management is one of my passions. I love building my teams and co-workers confidence, seeing them take off and thrive. To do this as women and as part of the LGBTQ+ community I believe you need to home in on three core skills: the ability to cope with change, looking for a safe environment that can lead to growth opportunities, and becoming visible in the community such that others also feel safe to pursue their own path.
Coping with change
The consistent theme of my childhood was change. My parents formed a key part of my attitude toward change, which I think has been integral to helping me thrive in life. My father was a Navy SEAL, part of the secret group SEAL Team Six, while my mom was an ER nurse and later an ICU nurse. As a result of my dad's position with the military, we moved every three years. I never knew when my dad was leaving or IF he was coming back. At the same time, because my mom was always the "new" person at work she tended to draw the short straw in shifts which resulted in her taking all the evening and night shifts. Growing up we never celebrated holidays or birthdays on the actual day; we celebrated when we could all be together. It was more important for the whole family, our team, to be together than to honor a specific date. Change was normal and I became an expert at coping with it.
To cope with change, I soon learned, you need support. I have always been a strong believer that it really does "take a village" to get important things done. Despite the constant moving when I was young, my upbringing was also grounded in a strong sense of community; the Navy Seal and nursing communities are very close knit, and people are always striving to help each other. I also have a twin brother, so I like to say that I was part of a team for minus 9 months! Understanding how important support networks are is step one to creating opportunity and a safe place to be oneself. For me, these are key requisites for the development of a workplace that empowers members of diverse communities and women to succeed.
The same theme of change can be said for business and technology! In my experience, it's one's ability to handle the ever-present expectation of change, and the attitude brought to the presence of change, that is a poignant factor in the prospect of success.
Looking for safety
Unfortunately, feelings of community and safety were turned upside down for a bit, when I went to high school and in my first few years post college in the professional world. These were mixed years, where I was unable to share my true self with others as I felt unsafe to do so. For example, I couldn't have personal photos and things on my desk at work like other people or share the reality of my weekend and personal life. Finally, in '09 when my company at the time added "sexual orientation" to a discrimination clause I felt I could breathe and not be afraid of losing my job for being gay. I felt one step closer to safety and was able to live more openly. In 2015 another turning point came as the federal government of the United States legalized gay marriage. Colleagues who knew me on a personal level came in and hugged me, celebrating with me. A deeper sense of safety and community finally set in. I began to really understand the importance of feeling safe. Everyone needs to have a safe space, a safe person to lean on where they work or learn.
I try to be this person in the world of work today: I listen to people, they call me to vent, cry, laugh and tell me things. Because I am in an environment now where I present as my true self, I share with others when I understand their perspective, and I empathize with where they are coming from. As I result, I hope that I can then move on to helping them or simply understanding.
In my leadership role this skill is reflected in the connection moments I like to create, building relationships and networks with a foundation of understanding. Experience has shown me that setting up an extra meeting just to ensure teams and individuals speak to each other, creates a sense of connection that means people are then comfortable reaching out to each other directly more naturally, whenever they need to. Emails just don't cut it sometimes, especially in international relations where differences in tone of voice can be significant. Inclusive leadership needs to consider the need for personal connections.
It's even more important as women and as minorities that we reach out and find allies. The risk of isolation brings with it missed opportunities that can impact career advancement. I am certain my career path owes a debt to my "it takes a village ethos" which means that I know when I need to ask for help, I know I can't do it all alone and I lean into allies for support. Finding allies is key, but you need to put yourself out there to create those connections. Not everyone has this attitude of course, so businesses can help by establishing avenues where these relationships can form. At JAGGAER there are Employee Resource Groups. I help to lead the Pride (LGBTQIA+) employee resource group and am one of the sponsors of the Women's Network. When these avenues exist, I think it's key to get involved, to take part in those meetings and conversations, and above all listen.
Visibility in promotion of opportunity
My advice to help individuals pursue their own growth opportunities is to show up! Showing up, being visible, being present and allowing others to see you as an ally that they can count on makes a world of a difference. In this remote work world, it is even more important that people show up any time that people gather so that they can create those real-life interactions and connections. Those "watercooler conversations" are not always possible anymore; thus, participation and visibility are even more important.
The fact is that if you don't show up, opportunities will pass you by and as women and minorities we already have fewer of those. Being present puts you top of mind. You also need to be open to putting yourself forward for new opportunities, leaning into your ally network for the confidence that may be lacking.
My life experiences have shaped how importantly I see the need for people to create ally networks. Simple actions like checking in on each other, staying informed about what is going on in the world and reaching out to each other, the basics of kindness are key to creating inclusive workplaces. Being a gay woman in the technology industry for almost three decades, witnessing the world move through different phases of acceptance and inclusivity, both positive and negative, has become a driver in my choosing to be a highly visible and inclusive leader. And, I have witnessed first hand that the positive impact of more diverse and inclusive work environments has proven to promote growth in business and industry time and again. In my experience, building confidence and safety in all workplaces tends to promote increased job satisfaction, loyalty, sense of comradery, and is the key to creating the kinds of workplaces where individuals and the business thrive. Those that welcome more diversity tend to be open to new perspectives that can create novel opportunities for growth and success.