Listening to ALL Voices: How To Build an Authentic Community

“Alone, we can do so little; together, we can do so much. "
- Helen Keller

Every day, we talk to small businesses and non-profits about Conscientious Leadership. It’s all about understanding our responsibility towards people and planet and the importance of practicing humility and authenticity in the workplace.  

And almost without exception, these leaders get it. It’s like preaching to the choir.

Which makes us feel hopeful.

When we gather with these colleagues, CEOs, Board Members and Executive Directors, we discuss  the pressing topics of the day and what we're working on. Climate change. Purpose-driven businesses. And social justice issues, to name just a few.  Clearly, these important matters resonates with them.

But it was a comment at the end of one recent discussion that really brought things home to us. Or should we say one word.

"Community."

That is what's most important, said one leader.  

Doing things together as a family is always better than doing things by yourself. There's the idea of "many hands make light work." There's the Helen Keller quote above. And there's the idea that so much more can be accomplished by a team.

Truth be told, this is what we are seeing in our family of 37 certified Benefit Corporations for Good. Leaders coming together to support social justice issues. Passionate people joining forces in helping create greener neighborhoods. And ethical professionals building stronger and more conscientious businesses.

What makes it all possible is that their values are aligned.  

It's More than Words

On the other hand, these very same dedicated and passionate individuals sometimes find it challenging to listen to the voices of the communities they support. They’re not sure how. Or they are too busy as entrepreneurs to take the time to listen to voices that are very different from their own.

Yet, we embrace our values and pat ourselves on the back. Sometimes we’re even righteous about being purpose-driven and conscientious leaders.

Just who are these people we’re discussing? We’re talking about well-intentioned boards and leadership teams that sadly still look a lot like each other, homogeneous in age, gender preference, and ethnicity.  A 2017 study reveals, “The diversity of Boards has not increased over the past two years and seems unlikely to change anytime soon based on current recruitment efforts.”

It seems we talk-the-talk but diverse communities still feel they aren’t being heard or included in decision-making, strategy and creative problem-solving.  This is despite the fact that diversity in industry is growing as seen in this recent study:

 A 2019 survey of 234 companies in the S&P 500 found that 63% of the diversity professionals had been appointed or promoted to their roles during the past three years. In March 2018, the job site “Indeed” reported that postings for diversity and inclusion professionals had risen 35% over the previous two years.

Learning from People Unlike Ourselves

How can we become a “community,” a quality valued by benefit corporations unless we proactively take the time to listen and learn from those who are unlike ourselves?

How can we demonstrate through our leadership teams that we are sensitive and respectful of different cultures, thoughts and behaviors?

A peek at higher education can enlighten us. In a 2017 study, 81% of full-time professors at degree-granting postsecondary schools were white while just 3% were Hispanic and 4% were black. 

This disparity alone puts individuals on a career path to enter the workplace with a void of understanding.  Diversity is important.  People understand this but to create a workplace environment that welcomes differences as a community means going beyond the physical presence of diverse individuals to embracing their voices. Being truly inclusive, not just diverse, takes some effort. And it all begins with listening.

How to Improve Our Efforts

The workforce is a community. Together leaders and their teams can accomplish great things. Yet, even within benefit corporations and the most laudable nonprofits, there is room for improvement.

So…here’s our challenge to you to:

• Renew your efforts to not only recruit for diversity, but also to pause, stop talking, put our egos aside and listen to these voices.

• Acknowledge the value diverse voices bring to the table and to respect their creativity and ideas, and then graciously act on them.

• Follow their lead in proactive outreach to diverse communities in order to gain new perspectives that will help our organizations grow and thrive.

• Learn humility and not assume our way is the right way.

• Take more steps to surround ourselves with people who bring a fresh, unique perspective…this means within the leadership team and BOARDS!

This is the path to building an authentic community.

~benefitcorporationsforgood.com~