🕶️ How Leaders can Stand in the Gap

Welcome to the Leader’s Lens: The Perspective Shift issue!

This issue offers a fresh perspective and actionable tips to enhance your leadership this week.

Send me an email and let me know how you plan on implementing this perspective shift in your leadership!

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Standing in the Gap

When uncertainty arises, leaders face a choice: retreat or rise to the challenge.

How will you respond?

Recent policy shifts, including executive orders impacting DEI, have myself and many others wondering how to lead in this evolving landscape.

These changes challenge us to reflect on what we can control and how we can act decisively to support our teams and communities.

The growing industry of diversity, equity, and inclusion within the last 6 years has fostered change, access, and belonging for marginalized identities.

DEI was intended to be an extension of the civil rights movement of the 1960’s, with modern day solutions to guide the work.

However, the hard push to create cultural change has lead to backlash which ultimately led to the point of executive orders being written to drawback from the social concept.

These changes have sparked conversations, questions, and even fear about how leaders should respond to ensure their teams and communities feel valued and supported.

Like you, I’ve felt the pressure to have all the answers. I have sat in a few strategic conversations with non-profit and community leaders about how to wrap our heads around all the rapid changes.

But I’ve learned that leadership isn’t about knowing everything.

What has been helpful is revisiting the areas where I do have control.

• I can have love and empathy for others.

• I can do my best to stay informed with what is happening around me (with limits in what I consume).

• I can practice self-care through engaging in quality relationships with those around me.

• I can leverage my voice to be an advocate locally for those who are experiencing harm and discrimination based on policies that impact their identity.

These are opportunities for us to “Stand in The Gap”

Standing in the gap means recognizing where inequities and brokenness exist and taking action to bridge those divides. It’s about being the connection between what is and what could be: restoring hope, fostering inclusion, and building resilience.

Throughout history, biblical leaders like Nehemiah and Esther, civic leaders like Martin Luther King, Jr. and Fannie Lou Hamer, countless others have shown us that meaningful change happens when someone is willing to lead where it’s most needed.

As leaders, we now have an opportunity to embody this principle and create spaces where belonging and resilience thrive, even in challenging times.

“What can I do?”

Back in 2020, there was a rising call for community members to know what to do in face of the racial unrest with the deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud Arbery.

This distress created space for me (with the help of others) to create a infographic to help you know what to do to make a social impact in your local community.

This infographic then turned into a book, Advocacy in Action: 9 Practical Actions for Allies in Social Justice, as an additional resource for community members to be community leaders in their city.

With this Perspective Shift issue, I want to engage you, the organizational leaders who have positional power to impact the lives of those they lead, on how to view these executive orders and social changes from our Leader’s Lens Pillars.

Leader’s Lens Pillars

Leadership in times of change requires clarity, purpose, and a steadfast commitment to your values.

The recent executive orders affecting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts may challenge the progress leaders of belonging have made, but they also highlight areas where strong, inclusive leadership is most needed.

In the near future, I will create a thorough introduction of the Leader’s Lens Pillars, which is the philosophy for us to establish effective leadership within our organizations.

But today, here is an overview of what those pillars are, and how we would apply those pillars in response to these changes:

Inclusive Posture - Leading with empathy and openness to diverse perspectives.

We can acknowledge the concerns and emotions that are surrounding the policy changes. Approaching dialogue with curiosity increases understanding of the impacts this has on others. Inclusive leaders have strong emotional intelligence and self awareness on how to discuss situations with differing views while seeking a common solution.

Reflection Question: How can I show up with empathy and create a space where people feel heard and supported?

Building Cultures of Belonging - Ensuring that everyone feels valued and included.

Inclusive leaders create belonging cultures. We can revisit our values (both personal and organizational) as markers for respect, inclusion, and belonging. This can serve as a time to audit what policies and practices are in place to ensure equity is still present. We can also hold space to acknowledge those who feel further marginalized by meeting with them personally or hosting an open forum for team discussion.

Reflection Question: What steps can I take to ensure my team feels a sense of belonging, regardless of external challenges?

Leadership Resiliency and Growth - Adapting to challenges with courage and perseverance.

Challenges are real and can be difficult. If there is any opportunity to reframe this moment, it would be to see how you and your leadership can double down on creating safe environments for your staff. This is within our control. We can model through our actions with transparent communication and calm perspectives on how to navigate changes. We can also encourage staff to not carry the burden of actions that are out of their control, giving everyone tools for navigating uncertainty and rest.

Reflection Question: How can I grow through this moment and inspire resilience in my team?

Community-Centered Leadership - Leading with a commitment to collective well-being.

Since we don’t have all the answers, we can connect with local organizations and leaders who have a plan on how to address any gaps related to the executive orders. This collaboration is a larger effort to show the collective agreement to belonging for our staff and community members. We can also leverage our position to amplify voices and share resources to people who need them the most

Reflection Question: How can I align my leadership with the needs of my community for greater impact?

Strategic Leadership Execution - Taking intentional, values-driven action.

Whether it’s your people and culture goals, recruitment efforts, supplier contracts, or leadership development, ensure that our goals are specific and measurable to our commitment to inclusion. Our leadership can review and adapt strategies related to the changes but are still aligned with our values. We can target our efforts to the areas of greatest impact within our control and connected to our teams.

Reflection Question: What strategic steps can I take to uphold equity and inclusion in my leadership and organization?

Practical Actions for you this week

This is the time where our inclusive leadership is tested, but they are also an opportunity to stand in the gap.

By reflecting on these Leader’s Lens Pillars, you can lead with purpose and create spaces where belonging, resilience, and growth thrive—no matter the external challenges.

Take a moment to reflect on these Pillars. Which one resonates most with the gap you see today? What action will you take to embody inclusive leadership this week?

Here are tangible ways you can take action now:

• Engage Your Team: Create safe spaces for open conversations about the impact of these changes.

• Sustain Inclusion: Audit your policies and practices to ensure they remain equitable and inclusive.

• Act Locally: Collaborate with your community and network to address gaps and amplify change.

• Prioritize Self-Care: Take a step back when needed, and surround yourself with support.

If you’re feeling the weight of leading in uncertain times, you don’t have to do it alone.

Whether you need guidance for team conversations or a sounding board for your own reflections, I’m here to support you. Reach out through email when you are ready.

Let’s navigate this moment together,

Ray

Whenever you are ready, here are ways you can work with me:

• 🎤Speaking - As a Speaker and Facilitator, I will engage your team on how belonging and inclusivity can increase your team dynamics! ​Book Ray Now

• 🤝Coaching - As a Coach, I will help you enhance the power of inclusivity and empathy to be an effective leader through an equity lens! Book a Call Now

• 📘Consulting - As a Consultant, I will help strengthen your organizational culture to increase the employee experience and retention! Book a Consultation Now

P.S. - Thank you to those who have filled out the survey letting me know more about your leadership journey! I am excited to dive into the results over the next couple of weeks to provide you with resources and content that will support your leadership! If you haven’t filled it out yet, do so by clicking the link here!