This episode is the second conversation in their series, Let's Get REAL: Racial Equity for Adaptive Leaders. In it, Dr. Joanna Shoffner Scott talks with longtime colleague Anthony Armstrong about the difference between transactional and transformational leadership. The distinctions between these two leadership styles matter, particularly in building racially equitable organizations. They also discuss their collaborative journey, the frameworks they've developed to help organizations approach racial equity holistically, and the importance of a shared “why” to anchor meaningful change.

Key Takeaways:

1. The Importance of Purpose in Racial Equity Work:

• Joanna and Anthony identify the significance of beginning with a clear "why" when starting racial equity initiatives. Building a foundational understanding helps leaders and organizations align their actions with their mission, vision, and values, making the subsequent steps more impactful and meaningful.
  
  

2. Frameworks for Holistic Change:

• The episode explores the frameworks that Joanna and Anthony use, such as the 6P Racial Equity Framework and the Racial Equity Growth Continuum.
  
  
• These tools help organizations move beyond siloes to embed equity systematically across all aspects of their work. These frameworks can be used to address everyday challenges.
  
  

3. Differentiating Transactional from Transformational Leadership:

• The discussion lifts up the reality that while tools and technical solutions are valuable, they alone do not lead to transformational change.
  
  
• Transformation requires adaptive leadership that considers deeper, often unseen organizational dynamics. Leaders must be willing to step back, assess their organizations from a broader perspective, and address the systemic issues that perpetuate inequities in the ways they work.

Additional Resources:

• Explore the 6P+ Racial Equity Framework to anchor your approach in ways that center your organizational values [created by Joanna and Anthony]
  
  
• Becoming An Adaptive Leader [Based on the work of Ronald Heifetz and Marty Linsky]

To learn more about my work, visit stameystreet.com

In this mini episode, host Joanna Shoffner Scott highlights the significance of systems and processes in creating racially equitable organizations. Drawing from her extensive experience as an organizational development consultant and founder of the Stamey Street Consulting Group, Joanna explains why clear systems and processes are foundational to equity work. She unpacks the often hidden but crucial role systems play in fostering an inclusive workplace. Whether you're a nonprofit leader, executive, or manager, this episode provides valuable insights to help you see the benefits of leveraging your processes to build equity into your everyday work.

Key Takeaways:

1. The Essential Components for Building Racially Equitable Organizations:

• Joanna highlights four critical components for creating equitable organizations: a committed leader, clear values and identity, robust systems and processes, and organizational behaviors aligned with these elements. Systems and processes, in particular, are necessary for sustaining the work of racial equity but are often overlooked and underutilized.
  
  

2. Seven Key Systems for Nonprofits:

• Joanna outlines seven crucial systems every nonprofit organization needs.

3. Equity in Most Felt in Small, Everyday Decisions:

• While many view equity through the lens of grand initiatives and public-facing projects, Joanna emphasizes that equity also resides in the small, day-to-day decisions leaders make. Proper systems and processes help mitigate bias and ensure that organizational history and decision-making are transparent and accessible, promoting a more inclusive environment.

Additional Resources:

• Graphic on structures, systems, processes, tasks, and steps from The Power and Limitations of Racial Equity Audits: How to Uncover Organizational Weaknesses and Address Inequities via stameystreet.com
  
  
• Intentionality Goes A Long Way In Sustaining Your Racial Equity Commitment [BLOG]

To learn more about my work, visit stameystreet.com

In this episode of Race in the Workplace (S3, Ep 4), host Joanna Shoffner Scott explores the necessary components for building a racially equitable organization. From her extensive consulting experience and personal experiences as a Black woman in professional spaces, Joanna identifies and unpacks four foundational elements critical to building and sustaining racial equity within organizations. Whether you're a leader just beginning your journey or navigating ongoing challenges, these insights can inform your efforts to create a truly equitable workplace.

Key Takeaways:

Equity requires...

1. Committed Leadership:
   • Sustainable equity work requires "Big L" (i.e., executive leadership with positional power) and "Small L" (i.e., team and project leaders without positional power but with significant influence) leadership.
     
     
   • A commitment to equity from leaders with positional power is crucial for implementing and maintaining equitable practices within an organization.
     
     
2. Clear Values and Identity:
   • Organizations must work from a shared understanding of their mission, vision, and values to support a cross-cutting approach to equity.
     
     
   • Values should be more than just words on a website; they should be operationalized and revisited regularly to ensure they are still relevant and accurately reflect the organization's identity and commitments.
     
     
3. Systems and Processes:
   • Using systems and documented processes is essential for creating and maintaining equitable organizational practices.
     
     
   • Systematized ways of working enable organizations to evaluate and improve their processes objectively, ensuring efficiency and equity without personal biases interfering.
     
     
4. Aligned organizational behaviors
   • Aligning behaviors with your equity commitment. In short: Are you being equitable in your doing?
     
     
   • It also refers to your internal behaviors (i.e., how you engage with each other) and how your work shows up in the world.

Additional Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

• Previous Podcast Episode: Creating Your Organizational Equity Why | S1, Ep7
• Upcoming Mini Episode on Systems and Processes (Stay Tuned!)

To learn more about my work, visit stameystreet.com