Policy & Practice | Spring 2024

leadership corner

By Donna L. Wilson, PhD, LPC

Leading Upstream: Cultivating an Inclusive Leadership Stance to Promote Well-Being

W hen human services leaders take an upstream leadership stance, they proactively and strategi cally mitigate issues and challenges before they become more significant concerns. Infusing this standpoint with an equity lens allows them to double down and promote well-being with a person-centered and equitable approach. Leading upstream through an equity lens involves ensuring that your strate gies consider and address potential disparities and injustices within your organization or community. It means actively preventing and eliminating inequities, promoting fairness, and creating a more inclusive and diverse environment. Here are some specific ways to lead upstream with an inten tional focus on equity and well-being: Establish Inclusive Language n Ensure that your staff, partners, people you serve, and community

have shared meaning for terms (e.g., diversity, inclusion, power).

n Cultivate a culture of respect and inclusion where everyone feels valued and heard. n Ensure that staff knows how to apply the learning to real-life scenarios. Complete Equity Impact Assessments n Before implementing new policies or strategies, conduct equity impact assessments to evaluate potential consequences on different demo graphic groups. n Adjust plans as needed to minimize negative impacts on marginalized communities. Establish Affinity Groups and Employee Resource Networks n Establish affinity groups and employee resource networks that offer support and networking oppor tunities for underrepresented groups. n Ensure these groups have a platform to influence decision-making.

Engage in Inclusive Decision-Making n Investigate who is missing from the table and include them in decision-making. n Create opportunities for input from individuals representing various backgrounds and perspectives. Conduct Equity Audits n Conduct regular equity audits to assess your organization’s policies, practices, and systems. n Identify and rectify any dispari ties in hiring, promotions, pay, and opportunities. Offer Annual Cultural Competence Training n Provide training on cultural competence and diversity for all team members.

See Leadership Corner on page 24

Illustration by Chris Campbell/Shutterstock

8

Policy & Practice Spring 2024