5 Things / I Lied
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Not long ago, I was feeling incredibly run down, not exactly sick, but not energetic enough to do my best. I didn’t want to admit my own fatigue and I pushed back a client deliverable with a family excuse. I lied.
I’m not sure why I didn’t just tell the client that I wasn’t feeling well. Was I afraid of seeming weak? I didn’t put much thought into it at the time, but in hindsight, I’m sure I’ve been socially conditioned to associate fatigue = weakness.
The whole story is harmless in that I didn’t miss the client’s deadline, just my promised delivery date – except that a ton of other people do the exact same thing. They tell half-truths and white lies to avoid looking weak, different, or incapable – especially at work. The cumulative effect of this is huge and means that many teams lack psychological safety, which has been shown to drive innovation in diverse teams.
Wouldn’t it be nice if making excuses wasn’t necessary and we could just be a little more honest? Managers have a huge role to play here…and it starts with kind curiosity.
This Week’s Good Vibes:
Singapore Enshrines Flexible Work in Law
In Singapore, employees gained the legal right to request flexible work arrangements, including four-day workweeks and remote work days, starting December 1. By mandating a formal process for flexible work requests, Singapore aims to foster trust and reciprocity in the workplace and acknowledges the importance of flexibility for all workers, particularly caregivers, women, and seniors.
NCAA Women’s Basketball Final Sets Records
The NCAA women's basketball final set records, beating the viewership for the men’s final, becoming the most-watched basketball game since 2019, and the most-watched spring sporting event in five years. The women's success continues to show the growing audience and recognition for women's sports. I share these stories because there’s still such a need for continued investment and promotion to elevate their visibility and impact.
Allstate Managers Get Connections Budget
Allstate has hit its stride with a hybrid work model, in part by allocating leaders a portion of a $10 million “connections budget.” Managers have the autonomy to allocate funds for various activities that bring their teams together, such as in-person meetings, team-building events, or virtual contests. The flexibility of the budget allows for tailored experiences that cater to the unique dynamics and preferences of each team, ultimately contributing to an 84% engagement rate across the company.
Wisconsin Includes Asian American History
Wisconsin's new law adds Asian American and Hmong history to K-12 school curriculums. Governor Tony Evers sees it as a way to acknowledge the state's diverse roots, including the third-largest Hmong population in the country. This is especially important in light of recent anti-Asian sentiments. Wisconsin currently requires instruction of Black, Native American, and Latino American history and this addition is long overdue. It finally gives students a chance to see themselves in their lessons.
Ashley for State Rep!
Ashley Brundage, a fellow DEI speaker and author who once joined me for a DEI Double Feature, aims to become Florida's first transgender elected official in South Tampa. She’s running for State Representative. Ashley is an amazing woman whose platform focuses on key issues like insurance costs and small business support. She’s also very clever: in 2022, she received the "Spirit of the Community Award" from the Florida Commission on the Status of Women, with a letter signed from anti-LGBTQ Governor Ron DeSantis. She’s using that letter as part of her campaign to bridge political divides.
This Week’s Call to Action:
Read this article in HBR by Lily Zheng: What Needs to Change About DEI — and What Doesn’t.