How to Be an Inclusive Leader

Let me start out by saying: This book is a mixed bag.

The Introduction for this book was written with a very “self-help” tone and self-help word choices. Choosing to be inclusive is to make the choice to accept “this isn't about me.”  Choosing to be inclusive is its own challenge that not everyone is ready to face (but at the same time, they are not ready to face “not being inclusive or trying to remain neutral to inclusivity is its own choice”).

The book only truly starts to feel genuine and authentic around chapter three. It's a good starting point for anyone who is in the very start of their inclusivity/diversity journey (the angry/defensive stage).

Brown's text tackles a subject that most agree is important, yet on which many of those that agree don't know where to start. Do I want to be an inclusive leader? Of course! However, beyond a couple of low-hanging fruit steps, I really needed concrete ideas on how to start that journey.

The author does a wonderful job of making (and then re-iterating) the point that inclusion is a work in progress. Inclusion means different things to different people, and leaders must adjust their strategies accordingly. As with most meaningful change, there is no one-size-fits-all approach.

Foundational to one's effort is simply listening and respecting. Those learning to be inclusive will make mistakes, and that's okay. Ensure that your mistakes are honest and coming from an authentic desire to be the leader that the diverse populations on your team need. I gravitated toward the themes of curiosity and learning as well. I know I grew up in an insulated area not known for its diversity. I vividly remember talking with one of my employees (who was of a different race) about how condemnation without action was not akin to any progress. The nexus of that knowledge told me that I had a lot to learn. Exclusivity in this sense affects all of us as an affliction of the human condition. Inclusive leaders seek out opportunities to contribute to the solution. “I've not had the chance” isn't an acceptable battle cry.

All of that said, there will be some who may appreciate the message but struggle with Brown's direct writing style. Readers need to see it. There will be some who welcome some differences but struggle to accept others. Brown argues that those readers may be in the “unaware” stage of the continuum. As such, this text is a suitable first step on the path from unaware to aware.