People Aren’t A Barrier To Your DEI Success. Systems Are.
We don’t learn from experience, we learn from reflecting on experience. This ability to rest and reflect is key to the Four Simple Words facilitation and training experience. Too many diversity journeys begin or end in haste and hassle. That may check a box, but it won’t help you build a more inclusive culture. That is why everything we do is fun, grounded in reflective practice and designed to get your team thinking about the systems in and around your organization.
What does that mean? Here is a quick exercise: take a look at the people above. Who is a teacher? Who is feeling excluded? Who is the richest? Who is a volunteer? Who is a leader? Who is homophobic? Who is an ally? Who doesn’t see colour? Who is a newcomer? Who is Canadian? What do your initial impressions tell you about yourself and the systems we live and work in?
The author Anis Nin reminds us that “We do not see the world as it is, we see it as we are.” In other words, we often observe what we think or feel, not what we see. At Four Simple Words we ask questions that help teams see more. Warning: once seen, participants will not unsee this experience! And your DEI conversations will become authentic, outcome-focused and driven by responsibility rather than shame and blame.
While we don’t have your DEI answers we will help you ask the right questions.
DEI For Your Business
We hear you saying
You started and or manage your business because you care about and believe in the value you bring clients. Your profit is one way you can measure and point to that value.
You want to be an employer that people are proud to work for. You care about your growing team and know that many of them look different than you and arrive at work with unique life experiences.
DEI is equal parts important and overwhelming which means you feel stuck about where to start and don’t want to do this wrong
Let us reflect back
We also believe in the power of business to be a force of good. There is nothing wrong with making money as long as you bring your team along on the journey.
Stepping into DEI with intentionality and humility will be a sign you are committed to the team’s wellness and your collective growth. Your team wants to succeed…with you. They are ready and willing to do what it takes to grow.
For the record, DEI conversions are not easy nor are they ever ‘solved’. You can also do this. Equally important, cultures that embrace authentic inclusion have a competitive edge that is very, very hard to match.
For Your Municipality
We hear you saying
As a public institution, this is a very complicated conversation. You have a mandate to serve everyone in your community and each of them has thoughts on what DEI should (or should not) include
When it comes to DEI, your team (and community) are at very different points on the journey. That makes this learning process seem slow for some and threatening to others.
Reimagining power in your context is overwhelming and could be perceived as irresponsible or even illegal.
Let us reflect back
DEI is a value that many municipalities think of as a tactic. This difference will create tension between your approach to this work and community expectations.
Commitment is hard to prove. Allyship is an action (not a title) that needs to be proven time and time again. And, DEI metrics are not the end result of this work.
For Your Community Group or NGO
We hear you saying
You understand the importance of DEI and feel the added stress of doing it well because of the unique nature of your work.
Budgets are already stupidly tight and this is another important need that is stretching your organization thin.
The one-off sessions and meetings are not enough. Your dreams for a culture of inclusion clearly aren’t working because people keep leaving.
Let us reflect back
That pressure you feel is natural. When you are honest about the external lens on this work, your team will want to step up and learn with you
James Baldwin once said “If I love you, I have to make you conscious of the things you don’t see.” DEI is a way to show your staff and clients you really do care about them.
Traditional DEI has been focused on measuring outputs. The more we focus on outcomes the easier it is to invite others in and be clear about expectations.
Real-time support for DEI professionals
Are you an equity lead or DEI professional and need to think through a tough DEI challenge…like right now? Book a time here — maybe today! — to find no-obligation time with Lakhdeep and or Curt for a 30-minute brainstorm. We will be happy to let you vent, rant and feel heard. If we can help problem solve with you for a bit, that is a bonus.