| Over the past few months, we have seen a pandemic that has disproportionately impacted Black and Brown communities, we have seen joblessness and financial despair and we have seen George Floyd killed, to our horror, in front of our eyes. As a result of these injustices, and many others that have long been a part of our society, we continue to see protests in our city and around the country. Many of us know, this is a time for action. This is a time for leaders to take a stand. It is not enough to have good intentions, it is not enough to say that Black Lives Matter, leaders must act. As a leader, you can start by making your expectations clear – racism is not tolerated at your organization. It is also important for a leader to use their platform in the community. At my own organization, I sent out a message last week outlining a list of actions that I have and will take towards ending the injustice of racism. Here are a few examples of my commitments: 1. I will leverage trusted advisors: For the last 13 years, I have served as the Chair of Diversity Council at my organization. I have continued to hold this role as CEO. The Council has served as trusted advisors to me on all matters related to diversity, inclusion and equity. I will continue to use the Diversity Council, our Employee Resource Groups and our Chief Diversity Officer, to guide my decisions around policies and programs. 2. I will increase the number of diverse leaders at my organization: In the last five years as CEO, we have hired seven executives and one Department Chair who identify as racial minorities. While that may seem like a step forward, it is clear I have more room to increase the diversity of leaders at my organization. I have set very specific expectations for my team and myself to increase the diversity of our leaders over the next several years. 3. I will promote health equity: As a CEO of a hospital, I will develop a more formal Health Equity Center and appoint a leader to focus on developing clinical programs, based on our research, which will promote health equity. 4. I will raise awareness and set an example: I will use my leadership platform and my organization’s role in the community as a trusted source of information, to inform the public and elected officials about the fact that racism is a public health crisis. I will continue using resources to support programs and services in black communities so that every child has a fair chance at a healthy future. If you are a leader, it is time to act. Develop a clear list of action steps, make certain that they are measurable, not simply good intentions. Distribute those action steps to your organization and make sure you develop forums where you can listen to the people who identify as racial minorities and let them know that they matter to you. Leaders can make a difference to end the injustices of racism in our organizations and our society. |
Intentions versus Action: A Leader’s Role in Taking a Stand Against Racism and Injustice
