Are you a man who wants to support women and under-represented minorities in your organization?

In short, would you like to be a good guy?

If so, then you may wonder How exactly can I be a good guy?

The answer may surprise you.

It is not enough to track numbers or avoid discrimination and other offensive behaviors—much less sexual assault, which many of us are now discussing due to the U.S. presidential race. (Here is my take on the election.)

There are a series of positive steps you can take that go well beyond avoiding harm.

Some actions won’t pose risks for your public identity or career. Others require breaking from the Bro Code.

This week, Janet Crawford is back on the podcast to share her insights and practical tips for everyone who wants to be a good guy.

Janet is helping lead this conversation in Silicon Valley. Among all the executive coaches I know, she is the most knowledgeable about how the brain works and why this matters for leadership and unconscious bias. In episode 1 of this podcast, she talked about leaders’ brains, emotional literacy, and power.

Janet is unique because she not only works with organizations but also stays up to date on the latest brain and social science research. In fact, in just the past two years, she has updated her own views. For example, if a man sees a woman apologizing when it seems unwarranted, what can he do that will be helpful? Janet’s thoughts have changed—and, after listening to her, so have mine.

I can’t think of a more timely topic. If you find this conversation to be useful, please share it with colleagues and friends. That will help a lot.

Highlights:

* 10:00 Biologically, the experiences of women and under-represented minorities is very different

* 19:00 African American women are better prepared for bias than Caucasian women

* 24:30 CEO of AT&T sets a model for candidly sharing vulnerable stories

* 29:00 Proactive steps to make it safe to take risks and innovate

* 35:00 Sponsorship is very different from mentorship

* 39:00 New research on how the power hierarchy influences behavior

* 46:00 The leader sets a norm for civil behavior

* 51:00 What is the Bro Code?

* 57:00 A woman’s brain changes when a man stands up for her

* 1:04:00 Breaking from the Bro Code is courageous

* 1:09:00 It’s not about infantilizing women

Listen to the Podcast

Tweet a Quote

There is an overt Bro Code and a subtle form.

–Janet Crawford  Tweet this quote

Explore Additional Resources

“How to be a Good Guy” by Janet Crawford and Lisa Marshall

Talk by Randall Stephenson, CEO of AT&T, about starting a dialogue about race

Janet Crawford, Cascadance

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