Increasing Awareness
The term for "autopilot" mental shortcuts that can lead us to make snap judgements about a colleague's gender or background.
What is Unconscious Bias?
Instead of "feeling for" a colleague, this professional skill involves actively "taking the perspective" of their lived experience.
What is Cognitive Empathy?
Using "Person-First" language (ex: "A person with..) rather than defining a colleague by a label or stereotype.
What is Person-First Language?
This type of question is used to clarify a colleague's needs or boundaries when you are "unsure" of the correct terminology.
What is an Open-Ended/Clarifying Question?
The primary indicator of this culture is when team members feel safe to admit a mistake without fear of retribution.
What is Psychological Safety?
A proactive workplace practice where all employees include their pronouns in email signatures to normalize inclusive identity.
What is Normalizing Pronouns?
This common workplace challenge describes the mental energy a minority employee spends "educating" others about their identity.
What is Emotional Labor?
Modeling this "human" trait, such as admitting a mistake or a period of high stress, helps "soften" stigma in the room
What is Vulnerability?
A "Brave Space" practice where team members agree to share perspectives with honesty and courage rather than staying silent.
What is Authentic Communication?
This leadership behavior involves explicitly asking for a "different perspective" to ensure every voice is valued.
What is Inclusive Leadership?
This history-based term refers to the 1950's era where LGBTQ+ professionals were purged from federal jobs, creating a legacy of fear.
An exercise where team members find 5 non-obvious things they have in common to build a human connection.
What is a Commonality Icebreaker?
How a "Quiet Pivot" (correcting a pronoun mistake quickly without drama) prevents a colleague from feeling like a "problem."
What is a Professional Correction?
The act of "Allyship" -politely speaking up when you notice a colleague being interrupted or misgendered in a meeting.
What is Active Allyship?
A safety practice where "harmful gossip" is replaced by direct, constructive feedback to build mutual trust.
What is Radical Candor/Direct Feedback?
The difference between equality (treating everyone the same) and equity (giving everyone what they need to succeed).
What is the Equity vs. Equality distinction?
The impact of "active listening" - restating a colleague's concern to ensure they feel heard and understood.
What is Validation?
The professional benefit of reframing "asking for help" as a strength and competency rather than a liability.
What is Collaborative Competency?
How to professionally decline an intrusive personal question while maintaining a collaborative working relationship.
What is a Boundary Pivot?
This "Zero-Harm" goal applies not just to physical safety, but to the emotional well-being of the entire workforce.
What is Psychosocial Safety?