With so many workers now uncertain and fearful about the future, it’s more important than ever to embrace diversity and inclusion.
Have you ever had to pause to think about your answer to questions that get asked regularly in business and social situations: Are you married? Dating Anyone? What are you doing this weekend? People who are part of the LGBT community often do.
Earlier in my career, I often held back from providing fully engaged answers to those questions when the honest one could possibly be socially awkward, career limiting, or potentially lead to dismissal. When your livelihood is at risk, either as a full-time employee going through a probation period or a contractor with a dismissal clause, it’s sometimes easier to justify lack of transparency or courageous conversations.
Have you ever had to pause to think about your answer to questions that get asked regularly in business and social situations: Are you married? Dating Anyone? What are you doing this weekend? People who are part of the LGBT community often do.
Earlier in my career, I often held back from providing fully engaged answers to those questions when the honest one could possibly be socially awkward, career limiting, or potentially lead to dismissal. When your livelihood is at risk, either as a full-time employee going through a probation period or a contractor with a dismissal clause, it’s sometimes easier to justify lack of transparency or courageous conversations.
To be able to work on a team and with clients that value, embrace, and wholly support diversity and inclusion is a privilege. It’s so incredibly freeing to be able to bring my whole self to work. Earlier this year, my company, Prompta, was certified as a LGBT business enterprise making it the first diverse-certified consulting firm within Canada, which is another privilege. Even before certification, Prompta was a values based firm that embraced diversity and inclusion. Now, as a certified diverse vendor, we can stand tall as pioneers.
Bringing your whole self to work means that everyone’s character and values matter. Everyone on our team contributes to creating an environment of tolerance, acceptation, inclusion and community although not everyone has experienced being stereotypically diverse – members of the LGBT community, women, visible minorities, people who are physically disabled, older workers, those that are considered too heavy, short or tall. We live this philosophy within the Prompta Team and with our client partners. We choose to work with companies that respect and share our values and they can rest assured that we’ll embrace and honour their values and culture. Shared values of diversity and acceptance allows everyone to bring their whole selves to work, which enables all of their abilities to create original, inventive and creative solutions to problems.
As the founder and managing partner of Prompta, I’m proud to lead team members whose character and shared values enable us to be authentic, open and transparent in our daily interactions. Each day I bring my whole self to work, so please go ahead and ask me if I’m dating anyone or what I’m doing this weekend.
As the founder and managing partner of Prompta, I’m proud to lead team members whose character and shared values enable us to be authentic, open and transparent in our daily interactions. Each day I bring my whole self to work, so please go ahead and ask me if I’m dating anyone or what I’m doing this weekend.
