S27 Ep3: Ruth Rathblott - Unseen and Unheard: Creating an inclusive culture through storytelling

Today, author and disability diversity expert Ruth Rathblott offers a fresh perspective on how we understand and approach diversity in the workplace. She and Steve discuss how DEI can benefit both your culture and your business, and they give practical tips for leaders looking to build a more inclusive environment.

Key Takeaways:
1. Leaders need to go first in being vulnerable and trustworthy.
2. Hiding is universal and exhausting, and people fear judgement and rejection for keeping secrets.
3. Unhiding can increase staff retention and engagement.
4. Leaders who adopt unhiding can be more innovative and creative, and better connect with millennials and Gen Z employees.
5. Unhiding is the key to connection, and it will make leaders stronger and drive business results in today’s pandemic of loneliness.

Tune in to hear more about:
1. Diversity, equity, and inclusion with a focus on disability inclusion (0:00)
2. Hiding and sharing personal aspects of one’s identity in the workplace, with a focus on disability and diversity (5:08)
3. Leadership vulnerability and creating a safe space for teams to thrive (10:26)
4. The benefits of “unhiding” in the workplace, leading to increased trust, retention, and innovation (14:41)
5. Uncovering hidden potential through self-awareness and connection (18:49)

Standout Quotes:
1. It's funny, I was talking to a woman recently. And she said, I love this concept of hiding, I love the work that you're doing, Ruth, and as a leader, I will never unhide to my team. And I said, okay, why? And she said, because I don't trust them. And it got me into the space of thinking, Steve, that either she has the wrong team, or she's the wrong leader. Because if we can't trust our teams, why are we in this business? Because that's our job is to build teams that trust us, that work with us, that get us to our next level in terms of a company. And so how do we create those spaces? And it's by leaders going first, and being vulnerable. - Ruth Rathblott

2. “There is a privilege in being able to unhide. I recognize that. In terms of being able, whether you're in the securities industry or in a different industry, because there are still in 2024 reasons that people would be fearful, and for good reason be fearful, of sharing parts of themselves, for retaliation, et cetera. I think where I've seen the benefit and the other side is the retention increases. People feel better about the place that they work, because they don't feel like they have to hide that part of themselves. They feel like this is a company who understands me, I'm going to stay longer. They feel more engaged with their peers, because they're not hiding.” - Ruth Rathblott

3. “I use the methods of therapy. I use the methods of journaling. I use the methods of meditation, to just take a pause in our lives to say, what is holding me back? Where am I hiding part of myself to fit in for fear of judgment and fear of rejection? Take that inventory or that audit on yourself. Acknowledge it.” - Ruth Rathblott


Mentioned in this episode:

• ISF Analyst Insight Podcast
  
  

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