Good Vibes Leadership with Bernadette Smith

Happy new year! I hope this year is a wonderful one for you, personally and professionally. As always, I’m optimistic that we’re all on the right side of history. I’ll keep sharing the good vibes with you every week and cheer you on along on this DEI journey.

Lately, I’ve had some conversations with people who’ve shared with me how they’ve been using 5 Things. You’re a creative bunch! I can’t tell you how happy it makes me that 5 Things resonates with you, and that you actually use it.

Here are 5 ways you can use 5 Things:

• Bring it to a weekly team meeting and choose an item to discuss as part of the agenda
• Share a story from 5 Things in your internal DEI newsletter
• Bring one idea from 5 Things to each DEI Council meeting for discussion
• Share it with someone you’d like to reconnect with - tell them that you saw this and thought of them
• Test some things out! If you see a story that sounds like something that could work at your org, then get the right people in the room to figure out how to make it happen.

My word of the year is deepen and that includes deepening my relationships with any of you. In part, that means that I’m going to start sharing these 5 Things daily on TikTok…you can find me over there @5ThingsDEI. Doing this makes me very uncomfortable, but I’m doing it anyway because the world needs these messages.

Here are the good vibes I found this week:

1. Hershey Launches 1st Bilingual Manufacturing Facility
2. 911 Dispatchers in Montreal Are Learning to Stop It Racial Bias Calls
3. West Point Will Remove Confederate Symbols from Its Campus
4. The White House Gets Its Own Menorah for the First Time
5. The Ex Manifesto; The Definitions, the Values, and the Principles of Ex and Ex Design 

Read the full blog here.

To learn more about Minette, visit her website: www.minettenorman.com

Join thousands of readers by subscribing to the 5 Things newsletter. Enjoy some good vibes every Saturday morning. https://5thingsdei.com/

This week I received a message from a former client: "Yippee for our marriages being codified into law!"

Some of you may know that I spent years as a wedding planner with an LGBTQ+ specialty and a speaker on inclusion in that industry. I started that business in 2004. I was so young! It's been nearly 19 years since the first legal same-sex marriage licenses were issued in Massachusetts -- and only NOW are those marriages — and interracial marriages – codified into federal law, thanks to the Respect for Marriage Act. Those marriages were allowed due to Supreme Court decisions, which could have potentially been challenged.

19 years of waiting for same-sex marriages; 55 years of waiting for interracial marriages to become officially official.

Still, I'll take it. I'll celebrate it. And here it is, in 5 Things.

I'll take progress towards equality in most forms. Progress, even with caveats, as this law has. More equity and inclusion that starts tomorrow, next year, or the year after.

In the new year, I’ll keep sharing 5 Things, and maybe one of these stories will inspire you to take the next step forward toward greater equity and inclusion.

Just start.

To cap off the year, I’m sharing what I found to be the top 5 good vibes of the year, that I predict will become more common and expected in years to come.

Here are my top 5 good vibes of the year:

1. Hybrid Work Models
2. Companies Speaking Out Against Injustice
3. Awareness That Diversity Means Everyone
4. Diversity in Sports
5. Four-Day Workweeks Gain Momentum

Read the full blog here: www.theequalityinstitute.com/equality-insights-blog/5-things-the-year-in-good-vibes

Join thousands of readers by subscribing to the 5 Things newsletter. Enjoy some good vibes every Saturday morning. https://5thingsdei.com/

I had a conversation this week with a very kind senior DEI leader who wanted to help me help the company. They gave me some words to say that they thought might help get buy-in from the boss. This person encouraged me to pitch our Inclusive 360 Assessment as an “organizational improvement methodology”, not DEI. Our future work together as “change management”, not DEI.

All of this is true because our assessment examines the systems for gaps in equity and inclusion. What it delivers is a roadmap for meaningful systemic change and organizational improvement. 

Not DEI. I’ve found that a lot of the organizations I speak to aren’t quite invested enough for “organizational improvement”, beyond changing the way they hire. We deliver a lot of workshops and keynotes to help establish that readiness, but those workshops are mostly about behavior change. About people. While that’s great, I know that will only move the needle so far.

Lily Zheng recently wrote about this in HBR – To Avoid DEI Backlash, Focus on Changing Systems — Not People. Organizational improvement, change management, systemic change, whatever you want to call it. We’re here for it. 

Have you found that you've had to change your messaging around DEI to get buy-in?

Here are the good vibes I found this week:\

1. A Colorado Ski Resort Is Opening a Day Care For Employees—and It Could Provide a Blueprint to Help Solve the Childcare Crisis
2. Brown University Bans Caste Discrimination Throughout Campus in a First for the Ivy League
3. Ava DuVernay Becomes the First Black Woman on a Ben & Jerry's Pint with New Caramel Flavor
4. A Hundred UK Companies Sign Up for Four-Day Week with No Loss of Pay\
5. Anti-racism: When You Picture Doctors Without Borders, What Do You See? 

Read the full blog here: www.theequalityinstitute.com/equality-insights-blog/5-things-not-dei

To learn more about Gena Cox, please visit https://genacox.com/about/

Join thousands of readers by subscribing to the 5 Things newsletter. Enjoy some good vibes every Saturday morning. https://5thingsdei.com/

Recently, I’ve been thinking about the topic of vulnerability. We’ve been told that vulnerability in teams and in groups can unlock greatness. That it creates connection, establishes trust, and can lead to everyone doing their best work.

Here’s the thing about vulnerability that I think gets forgotten: somebody has to go first.

That's what's on my mind these days.

Life can be intense. And it can be exhausting pretending it's not. It feels so much better to have people cheering us on.

But somebody has to go first. Continue reading on LinkedIn…

Here are the good vibes I found this week:

1. Airbnb Makes It Easier to Find Wheelchair-Friendly Homes
2. Sensory-Friendly Santa Coming To Hundreds Of Locations Nationwide
3. WHO Renames Monkeypox as Mpox, Citing Racist Stigma
4. Miami Marlins Become First U.S. Sports Franchise With Women As President And General Manager
5. Colorado Springs Police Said They Made an Effort Not to Misgender Club Q Victims. Here’s Why That Matters 

Read the full blog here: https://www.theequalityinstitute.com/equality-insights-blog/5-things-going-first

Learn more about Lisa M. Ong here: https://www.wishingoutloud.com/
 

Join thousands of readers by subscribing to the 5 Things newsletter. Enjoy some good vibes every Saturday morning. https://5thingsdei.com/

Today our Senior Consultant Patti Flynn is joining me as a guest writer. 

This week was (and still is through today) Trans Awareness Week. This week culminates in the Trans Day of Remembrance (TDOR) tomorrow, on November 20th. TDOR was started in 1999 by a transgender advocate as a vigil to the memory of Rita Hester who was killed in anti-transgender violence. The somber nature of the end of the week stands in contrast to the prior 7 days when trans people (and cisgender allies) educate and take action. We bring attention to and lift up the work of trans creators, celebrate the success of trans people in public life, and amplify the voices of trans advocates and activists. We show the world our shared humanity and I hope that leads to more acceptance and less discrimination.

Although my TDOR this year will be extra difficult as I say the name of a dear friend, I know that the example she provided to so many when she was with us here in Chicago resonates. Her advocacy and activism inspire my own, and that of many others. So, while we mourn those losses, we look forward to a brighter future. A future that is truly possible with some help from our (cis) friends.

There are ways that you can help as an ally. Find a vigil in your area and go to support those there grieving, keeping in mind that this event is by and for the trans community. Seek out information about anti-trans legislation in your state, or a neighboring state, and contact your representative to register your opposition, and encourage others to do the same. And lastly, educate yourself – watching the documentary “Disclosure” on Netflix is a good starting point. Or check out the GenderCool YouTube Channel for some inspiration.

Here are the good vibes I found this week:

1. The First Female Crash Dummy Has Arrived
2. How Stunning Images from Space Were Brought to Life for the Visually Impaired
3. All-Terrain Wheelchairs Arrive at U.S. Parks: ‘This Is Life-Changing’
4. & 5. Self-Expression Within Airline Uniform Standards

To learn more about Jess, visit: https://jesspettitt.com/

Read the full blog here: https://www.theequalityinstitute.com/equality-insights-blog/5-things-remembrance

Join thousands of readers by subscribing to the 5 Things newsletter. Enjoy some good vibes every Saturday morning. https://5thingsdei.com/

A new study from Boston College and the Society of Human Resources Management tells us that 65% of organizations believe DEI is important, yet 63% give little to no resources to DEI. This doesn’t surprise me. In my conversations with organizations, I find many who see DEI as an HR or L&D initiative. In other words, recruitment, and training. There are many DEI actions that can be taken that cost minimal external resources, such as policy changes and building inclusion nudges into process documentation. 

I’m a big believer in the 360 approach – beyond HR and L&D, which is why I wrote Inclusive 360 and built our assessment tool. Here’s a beautiful example of how an organization (this one with A LOT of resources!) can become Inclusive 360.

Last month, the David Geffen Hall at Lincoln Center in New York reopened after major redesigns. The building was built on land formerly known as San Juan Hill, a low-income Black and Hispanic neighborhood with 7,000 families. That neighborhood was razed years ago as part of a racist “urban renewal” initiative. To correct historic wrongs, 42% of construction contracts for this massive redesign went to minority and women-owned businesses. They launched a robust training program, helping three dozen new construction workers get union cards. Lincoln Center itself increased its leadership diversity, with about 50% of leaders who are women and BIPOC. Finally, the debut concert for the reopening was a pay-what-you-can show called “San Juan Hill” celebrating the music and culture of the old neighborhood. All of this matters because it shows a 360 approach to equity and inclusion. A holistic approach is what’s necessary for true equity.

More good vibes I found this week:

2. Gay Racer Zach Herrin Made His Nascar Debut This Weekend

3. Fortune 500 Companies Tie Executive Compensations to ESG Performance

4 & 5. Several Major Companies Expand Workplace and Workweek Flexibility

Read the full blog here: https://www.theequalityinstitute.com/equality-insights-blog/5-things-360

To learn more about Julie and  Next Pivot Point, visit: https://nextpivotpoint.com/

Join thousands of readers by subscribing to the 5 Things newsletter. Enjoy some good vibes every Saturday morning. https://5thingsdei.com/

When I’m prepping for a keynote, I love to spend time talking to the client about their DEI goals and current state. Between all these conversations, research for 5 Things, and research for my book, Inclusive 360, I think I figured out the winning formula for meaningful DEI progress: Purpose + Strategy + Accountability (PSA). 

It sounds simple but we all know it’s not easy. Let me break it down:

• Purpose must be a people-first message that employees can rally around. Leaders should also share their own individual purposes.
• Strategy must be holistic and organization-wide, not simply workshops and coaching, not simply hiring more underrepresented talent.
• Accountability must be for all managers, or everyone, if you'd like, where engagement in or progress on DEI goals is a part of performance reviews.

Consider Purpose + Strategy + Accountability (PSA) as a three-legged stool that wobbles depending on what’s missing (a metaphor borrowed from the book Unleashed). In a short conversation with a client, that framework will allow our team to quickly identify the areas of opportunity that can move the needle most quickly. I love that we get to do this stuff!

Here are the good vibes I found this week:

1. LinkedIn Adds New Accessibility Features, Including Auto-Captions on Videos
2. Software Helps Employers Fix Problematic Feedback Language Before It’s Delivered
3. ‘The Whole Country Shines With a Huge Rainbow’: Same-Sex Marriage Legal in All Mexican States
4. Diwali Will Be a Public School Holiday in New York City Starting in 2023
5. Disney Expands Costume Options For Children With Disabilities

Read the full blog here: https://www.theequalityinstitute.com/equality-insights-blog/5-things-the-dei-psa

To learn more about Toby and his company, Mildon - visit: https://www.mildon.co.uk/

Join thousands of readers by subscribing to the 5 Things newsletter. Enjoy some good vibes every Saturday morning. https://5thingsdei.com/

This week my partner and I went to seeU.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor talk in Chicago. She answered most of her questions while walking through the audience, shaking hands, and signing books. The Justice approaches her work with an amazing amount of grace and gentleness and sees her greatest work as being a trailblazer for others. She’s written three children’s books and dedicates an astounding amount of time to speak with young people.

At no point were the words, “diversity, equity, and inclusion” spoken, but Justice Sotomayor shared some lessons that resonated with me as universal. She’s openly diabetic and shared a story about a time years ago when she was giving herself an insulin shot in a restaurant restroom. Another woman walked in, and later as Sotomayor was leaving, she overheard that woman say to her friend, “That woman is a drug addict” (referring to Sotomayor). The woman assumed that the insulin shot was drugs. That experience stuck with Justice Sotomayor and years later, she wrote a children’s book called “Just Ask” about how we shouldn’t make assumptions about others, and instead ask questions. Those of you who are familiar with my ARC Method know I wholeheartedly agree!

The Justice was also asked about the increasing polarization within our country and the Supreme Court. She emphasized empathy towards everybody, to take a moment to try to put ourselves in their shoes, to take their perspective. She seeks out the good in others, even those, or perhaps especially those, with whom she disagrees, and gave an example of Justice Clarence Thomas’ kindness.

Perhaps most importantly, Justice Sotomayor gave us a call to action: “What choice do we have but to keep trying to change things?’ Because if you feel disenfranchised and let other people fight for what they think is right and you’re not willing to get up and fight, then you are just giving it to them.”

Here are the good vibes I found this week:

1. Anna May Wong Will Be 1st Asian American Featured on U.S. Currency
2. You Can Now Buy Hearing Aids Over the Counter
3. New Glassdoor Filters Enable Searches on Demographic Group Ratings and Interests Like Work Life Balance
4. Social Security Administration Makes It Easier to Change Sex Marker in Records
5. Bank of Ireland Offers Workers Paid Menopause Leave

Read the full blog here: https://www.theequalityinstitute.com/equality-insights-blog/5-things-justice-sotomayor

To learn more about Brian and Hummingbird Humanity, visit: https://hummingbirdhumanity.com/

Join thousands of readers by subscribing to the 5 Things newsletter. Enjoy some good vibes every Saturday morning. https://5thingsdei.com/

This week, I spent three days (and joyful evenings) with other thought leaders, each working to bring our new keynotes to life with the brilliant team at Heroic Public Speaking. I had a great week and did some fantastic work, but I started to feel a little down on myself once I left. I didn’t feel like writing this morning. Spending three days with other thought leaders can trigger comparisonitis (comparison syndrome). They have how many LinkedIn followers??!!

Any one of you could go to a conference of peers, or even read 5 Things and think, “That is such a cool thing that company X is doing…my company stinks and isn’t doing anything significant with DEI.” Or worse: ”They’re such a great leader…I stink compared to them…”

Comparisonitis. Comparison has been called the thief of joy – and it causes stagnation. I can’t fulfill my purpose to build a world where people feel safe to be authentically themselves if I let comparison drag me down. What I have to remind myself is that each step I take toward my vision matters.

Screw comparisonitis. There will always be those ahead of you and trust me, there will be many others just starting out. Each step you take towards more significant equity and inclusion matters – as an individual, and as an organization. Even simple things like intentionally connecting with people who are different from you, builds momentum that can be world-changing, and life-changing.

If you find yourself stuck because of comparisonitis or anything else, reply to this email. Seriously. I read every response and I’ll get back to you ASAP. Oh, and as much as I hate to admit it, external validation helps…so if you listen to the 5 Things in 15 Minutes podcast, will you do me a favor, rate, and review?

Here are the good vibes I found this week:

1. Championing Authenticity and Equity: Inside and Outside of Yelp
2. Walmart to Cover Fertility Treatments Under Insurance Plan
3. How Employers Can Set Formerly Incarcerated Workers Up for Success
4. The Who Says Gender-Affirming Care Is Essential to Transgender Health
5. CVS Drops Prices on Its Tampons and Will Pay the ‘Pink Tax’

Read the full blog here

Click here to learn more about Simone and Your Choice Coach

Join thousands of readers by subscribing to the 5 Things newsletter. Enjoy some good vibes every Saturday morning. https://5thingsdei.com/

We are in National Hispanic Heritage Month and I’d like to recommend some Latine folks for you to follow and/or hire all year long. Ingrid Harb is my guest on 5 Things in 15 Minutes this week. She’s a fabulous, connective speaker who also leads transformative in-person DEI experiences. You can follow Ingrid here and catch her on my podcast this week.

My friend, speaker Miguel Aviles-Perez is based in Puerto Rico, which remains in crisis once again due to the devastation of Hurricane Fiona. Much of the island still lacks power. Miguel is thoughtful and insightful and his energy is amazing! You can follow Miguel here.

Finally, we have a new team member here at Equality Institute, Erika Latines, who is a compelling and engaging facilitator and storyteller. You can read more about Erika here. She’s available for our new workshops True Colors and Just the Way You Are, as well as our bestseller, Voices Carry.

And if you’re looking for a great novel, I highly recommend the NYT bestseller Olga Dies Dreaming written by my old friend Xochitl Gonzalez. It’s a juicy novel set in NYC and Puerto Rico. I loved it.

Here are the good vibes I found this week:

1. Virgin Atlantic Announces Non-Gendered Uniform Policy
2. Amazon, Hilton, and PepsiCo Among Nearly Four Dozen Major Companies That Commit To Hiring 22,000 Refugees
3. Activision Blizzard launched a boot camp for industry outsiders
4. California Job Postings Will Soon Include Pay Ranges Due to a New Salary Transparency Bill Signed Into Law
5. First Neurodiversity-Focused Chamber of Commerce Launches in Colorado

Read the full blog here

Learn more about Ingrid and NOTA Inclusion here

Join thousands of readers by subscribing to the 5 Things newsletter. Enjoy some good vibes every Saturday morning. https://5thingsdei.com/