Sentiment Into Action Series #2: Plan to Plan

Perspective, experience and actions brought to you by Dr. Florence Holland, Diversity, Inclusion and Education expert, speaker, advisor and all around awesome individual. 

“Deeply saddened”…

“Shocked”…

“Appalled”…

Now that we are over a month after such events as the murder of George Floyd, three months since Breonna Taylor was gunned down in her own home and four months after the killing of Ahmaud Arbery, my hope is we've moved past using the initial reactions and statements like the above when communicating with our members. Instead, my hope is you've moved from emotions to ACTION!

In the last Sentiment Into Action Series - Steps to Address Levels of Racism, you were given overall strategies an association could take to address all levels of racism. However, I want to be clear those strategies should not be done in isolation. As noted previously, for true progress to take place and be measurable it must be strategic. 

With this in mind, the next few blogs in this series will guide you through how your association can create a strategic diversity plan with specifics on how to address diversity, inclusion and belonging within your association and for your members.

While ACTION is the focus, you have to be cautious not to develop programming without a plan. "Knee-jerk” initiatives for diversity, inclusion, belonging, equality and equity could lead to creation in isolation and often without the input of key stakeholders or tied to measurable results. Although you want to be perceived as reactive, don't over prioritize speed and thereby create a non-sustainable plan without the longevity so greatly needed. 

Yes, step one of a well-meaning, measurable plan is to PLAN the plan using the below suggestions! Many have heard the saying, "if you fail to PLAN, you PLAN to fail." With something this important and timely, associations do not have the bandwidth or resources to spend reworking or undoing an underdeveloped action plan. Instead, let’s take the time to think through each step so we can all achieve the end goal – a diverse, inclusive association where all staff, volunteers and members feel they truly belong!

Here are some helpful prompts for preparing your plan! Stay tuned for the next installment to learn more about creating a strategic diversity plan. 

So what’s the first step in the development of this strategic diversity and inclusion plan? It will sound like an oxymoron, and I think you can see the theme here, but the first step is to….PLAN!

Ask questions like the ones below to come to a consensus within your association to determine the plan's purpose:

- Is the plan to develop a common language and focus? 

- Is the plan being developed to create a culture of accountability on issues of diversity, inclusion, belonging, equality and equity? 

- Are you inviting individual and collective responsibility for these issues through the development of the plan?

As you PLAN you need to establish guiding principles. These principles should also include a discussion on the timeline, from development to publication of the final document. 

Ask these questions to help set guidelines for your plan: 

- How will you approach the process of creating the plan? 

- Will there be a set structure in place? 

- Will the plan be created by leadership or a committee? 

- Will an outside consultant be brought in for any element of the development, for example during the data collection period? 

- Who are the key internal and external stakeholders that should be engaged along the plan’s development and at which stages?

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Up10 Solutions is committed to providing education, resources and guidance to help you put sentiment into action to ensure inclusivity for all. This series is cultivated to help you and your organization evolve in some small way. If you need help in a bigger way, we are here. Feel free to visit us or email us at contact@up10solutions.com.