Leading Libraries Series: Leading for Inclusion

Developing allyship

 

Being an effective ally

Effective allyship is rooted in meaningful relationships, and the courage and vulnerability to have challenging conversations. The effectiveness of your allyship is determined by the people/marginalised groups that you are supporting.

Allyship is a life-long commitment to your own development and contribution towards a more equitable world. It requires compassion, understanding and working with some painful realities. It also requires courage and can take practice as you develop your confidence. This includes the language you use around exclusion and inequity, as well as how and when you make different interventions.

Feedback is an important part of effective allyship as it can help you to understand the impact of your actions, non-actions and behaviours.

 

Your effectiveness as an ally

This continuum shows different positions that you can take and the effectiveness of you as an ally.

Notice the event: Noticing that there is exclusion taking place or that certain people and groups are not being represented.

Interpret it as an issue: Having the knowledge and awareness to interpret what you're seeing or noticing as an issue. This could be recognising that women or people of colour might not be represented in senior positions within your organisation, recognising why that is an issue and the impact it might be having on the wider organisation, as well as the communities that you serve.

Feel responsible for dealing with it: Bringing our cognitive, emotive and generative understanding together. Not only noticing and interpreting the issue, but also feeling responsible to help create an environment that is more inclusive where people feel as though they belong.

Possess the skills to act & use my voice: Having the skills to act, to call out injustices and be strategic with actions. My voice can be used as ally for groups of people who are not being represented.

Reflect on what kind of ally you are considering the following:

• Where are you on the continuum and why?
• How does this shape the kind of ally you are, and the impact you are having (or not)?
• Where do you aspire to be on the continuum, and what do you need to do to get there? How can you use your Power and Privilege to help you get there?
• What one practical thing could you change to be a more effective ally?

 

Pause for reflection

What strengths and assets do you offer as an ally? (Think about your skills, behaviours and mindset)

What are your dreams and aspirations as an ally?

What is your learning edge (personal stretch or discomfort)?

What are your fears or concerns about being an ally?

Taking all this into account, what is your key development area as an ally? How will working on this support you in your own life, as well as in your allyship?

How can you get honest and developmental feedback from the people/groups you are an ally with? (Explore what you do well, what you could do differently, and what else you can do and learn)

 

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