Let’s Get REAL: Racial Equity for Adaptive Leaders — A Conversation with Anthony Armstrong
Today on the blog, I want to share a portion of Episode 3 of the Race in the Workplace podcast called, Let's Get REAL: Introducing Racial Equity for Adaptive Leaders.
Joining me for the discussion is Anthony Armstrong, founder and lead consultant at Make Communities. You can listen to the full interview where you get your podcasts, but here is a short snippet of our conversation.
The why of the series…
Joanna Shoffner Scott (JSS): Each episode of this series will feature a conversation in which Anthony and I unpack the challenges, opportunities, and ever-changing landscape for leaders who want to build equitable organizations. I think you will be interested in hearing these conversations not only about the challenges and opportunities that this moment presents from our different perspectives as practitioners. Anthony, can you introduce yourself?
Anthony Armstrong (AA): I'm Anthony Armstrong. I'm the Founder and Lead Consultant at Make Communities, where I help build capacity for personal, organizational, and societal change. I do that with an intentional equity focus and a growth-minded, systems-oriented approach. Together, we created this podcast series called Racial Equity for Adaptive Leaders (REAL).
On navigating aspiration gaps…
JSS: You mentioned the notion of “acknowledging and owning the gap” between aspirations and where you are today. How can leaders effectively embrace this concept without demoralizing their teams?
AA: It's all about framing. Leaders should communicate that identifying gaps is a strength, not a weakness. By owning these gaps, they show authenticity and commitment to improvement. It's essential to approach these conversations with gentleness and understanding, highlighting that recognizing imperfections is a step towards progress, not a mark of failure.
As a leader, it is okay to acknowledge that where you are might not be where you hope to be.
Building an equitable organizaton is a journey.
On cross-generational leadership…
JSS: Cross-generational leadership often brings unique challenges, especially regarding equity. What strategies can leaders employ to bridge these gaps effectively?
AA: Leaders should focus on active listening and mutual learning. Cross-generational teams can bring a range of perspectives, which is a strength but can also lead to communication missteps. Creating spaces for open dialogue and encouraging mentorship across generations can help. It's also crucial to leverage each generation's unique strengths and points of view and find common ground in a shared mission, vision, and values.
On transformation…
JSS: You emphasized the importance of planning for transformation. Can you elaborate on how leaders should balance technical work and aspirational goals?
AA: You have to aspire and plan for transformation. We want folks to think about their timing. What drives your aspirations? Why now? Who's committed? What are those cautions out there? Some of which we've just named. Then, identify the conditions needed for traction so that your effort doesn’t disappear when it gets tough or when another priority emerges.
Good stuff, right? You can listen to the full interview below or wherever you get your podcasts.
You can search the Race in the Workplace blog archive by topic
