Get Comfortable With Being Uncomfortable

If you are a leader, you may be struggling with how to respond or what to say.

It's been 14 days of protests since the murder of Mr. George Floyd. Some leaders act like nothing is happening in America and the world. They may believe individual racism, systemic racism or police brutality have nothing to do with their strategic plan, so it's business as usual. There are a variety of reasons these issues were swept under the rug and continue to be.

As we in organizations like to say, read the room, read the writing on the wall, pivot, be agile, stay abreast of the trends, and move the needle. Nothing happening is new, it is just being revealed in a different manner for you to finally see. Because "the right thing" wasn't enough to gain buy-in, D&I professionals had to make "a business case."

Some leaders have sent vague messages of support because they are trying to appease too many and lack the courage needed to stand up.

Some leaders are co-opting Black employees into educating others or providing advice on how to handle diversity and inclusion efforts. Some Black employees feel this just adds to the day-to-day responsibilities for being the "only one" in the room. Sometimes this undue burden is called the "Black tax." This work usually comes with no extra pay and the weight of being blamed for anything that goes wrong instead of making organizational leaders accountable.

If you are a leader (of any race, ethnicity, nationality, or background) that is uncomfortable or doesn't understand the issues. Good. Because growth happens in this space. So what are you going to do right now?

First, take the initiative and and educate yourself. Listen to a podcast, read a book, watch a documentary. Information is literally at your fingertips.

Your growth and awakening is necessary.