How to Be an Ally in the Workplace

In honor of pride month, it is time to talk about how to be an ally in a workplace setting. While this topic may be a bit daunting at first glance, being a supportive ally of any marginalized group can be extremely easy and really help people in the process.

An ally is best defined as someone who supports equal rights for all, regardless of sexual orientation or ethnicity. In the workplace, an ally is someone who can help spot inequalities and provide meaningful change and action as a result.

Many companies have been realizing that this is a growing need, but unfortunately diversity and inclusion falls by the wayside in many organizations.

“27% of people in a study that included over 17,000 leaders and HR executives reported that their organization adequately promoted diversity and inclusion.”

– DDI (Workplace Allies)

In this recent study, it is shown how almost 75% of organizations still do not have a good handle on properly organizing diversity and inclusion initiatives. As a result, being an ally in the workplace is so important to help those around you.

Here are three ways to be a better ally at work!

1. Be Mindful of Bias and Privilege

If you are looking to become an ally, the first thing to do is take note of any preconceived bias or privilege.

It can be very easy to attempt to support others without looking inward, but you will not be very effective if this initial step is skipped. In order to accurately understand your own personal biases and privileges, here are simple definitions of both.

Bias- “Prejudice in favor of or against one thing, person, or group compared with another, usually in a way considered to be unfair.”

Privilege- “A special right, advantage, or immunity granted or available only to a particular person or group.”

Biases may unknowingly cause you to act differently around certain people, and they can form harmful snap judgements before getting to know someone. Privilege is best defined as your overall advantages and special rights when compared to others.

In order to understand those with less privilege, take time to understand exactly how you may be privileged currently. Also take a good look internally at any biases that you may have. Think about how you interact with people at work and see if any of your actions are impacted by either of these topics.

Remember, everyone will have some type of internal bias. The important thing is to reflect on your biases and understand how they could harm someone in the workplace.

Look inward and understand exactly how your actions impact those around you. Then, make changes and become a better ally!

2. Listen and Learn

After spending some time fighting internal bias, now it is time to talk and learn from others.

One great way to be an ally is to simply ask how you can help. Be honest with others and let them know that you are working on being a better ally, and ask how you could do better. You will most likely find that people are more than welcome to answer any questions that you may have.

Always make sure that you ask the right questions and listen fully to those around you. Here is a list of questions that can help you get started.

Questions to Ask at Work

• “How do you feel about diversity and inclusion at our company?”

• “Do you feel accurately represented by our company leaders?”

• “If you could change anything about the company what would it be?”

• “Is there anything I could to to make you feel more represented?”

• “Have I ever made you feel uncomfortable in the workplace?”

At the end of the day, approach the discussion in the most human way that you can. Remember, we are all trying to thrive and succeed in the workplace. Approach any conversation with the mindset that you want to help everyone succeed.

Being an ally can simply end at this step, but in order to be a truly effective ally, you must take action on what you have learned.

3. Taking action

Ally-ship in the workplace means recognizing privilege and biases in a professional context. It is also best to be mindful of mechanisms that cause discrimination, as well as have an awareness of your own privilege and how you can use it to be an ally. Here is a list to help you take action as an ally.

Steps you can take to help others

• Educate yourself- One of the most important steps you can take is to unlearn any biases and teach yourself on what it means to be an ally with resources like books, articles, podcasts and watch shows that discuss disadvantages of marginalized groups through analysis and critiques.

• Speak up- When someone in the workplace says something rude or hateful, call them out on it! Silence allows ignorance to continue.

• Learn from your mistakes- Being an ally is an ongoing process, and sometimes people say or do the wrong thing at certain points. The best way to learn is through trial and error! The most important thing is to acknowledge when you’ve made a mistake, and taking necessary steps afterwards to learn from it and improve.

True ally-ship is about creating spaces that promote equality and increase the success of marginalized groups. Coming together as a group to amplify each others voices will make the positive impact of creating a real inclusive workplace for everyone.

How have you practiced being an ally in the workplace? Leave a comment below and let us know what you think!