In this episode of Leadership Story Talks, hosts Julienne Ryan and Jerome Deroy welcome back Sona Sherratt, a distinguished faculty member at Ashridge and a doctoral candidate at the University of Cambridge. Sona’s work on psychological safety and unwritten organizational rules offers a profound exploration of how these dynamics impact workplace inclusivity and belonging.

Drawing on over 90 hours of interviews and years of experience designing executive education programs, Sona shares compelling insights into the cultural norms and biases that shape organizational behavior and what leaders can do to create authentic and inclusive work environments.

This episode is filled with transformative ideas, heartfelt stories, and practical strategies for fostering trust and psychological safety at every level of an organization.

You’ll Hear:

• Insights from Sona’s research: How unwritten organizational rules influence psychological safety and disproportionately affect women and minorities.
• Lessons from personal experiences: Sona’s moving story about her daughter’s encounter with bias and how it inspired her doctoral work on equality and inclusion.
• The role of vulnerability: Why humility and curiosity are essential traits for leaders to foster belonging and trust within teams.
• Practical strategies for leaders: How to create a culture of dissent, ensure equal participation, and build trust through meaningful connections.
• Small actions with big impact: Techniques like amplifying unheard voices in meetings, offering pre-meeting agendas for inclusivity, and creating spaces for genuine dialogue.

Key Takeaways:

1. Ask for Dissent: Encourage diverse viewpoints and actively seek alternative perspectives to enrich decision-making.
2. Foster Equal Turn-Taking: Create space for everyone to contribute, especially those who may hesitate to speak up.
3. Practice Authenticity: Move beyond surface-level DEI initiatives by addressing real employee needs with genuine care and intention.
4. Embrace Vulnerability: Leaders who admit they don’t have all the answers invite collaboration and build deeper trust.
5. Pay Attention to Small Moments: Inclusion happens in everyday actions, from body language in meetings to language use in informal conversations.

Resources:

• Learn more about Sona Sherratt’s work at Ashridge and her research on psychological safety: Ashridge Execut

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