Executive Summary
Why Diversity Courage Matters
Courage is agreed to be crucial for any good leader. Creating an environment where leaders, whether in title or in action, engage in diversity courage delivers on the outcome that many organizations have set out to achieve—more inclusive and equitable workplaces.
The Concept of Courage and the Nuances of Diversity Courage
Courage can be thought of as an equation of the inner conviction to take action in the face of a potential penalty. In what Dr. Roberson refers to as “garden variety” courage, there is a challenging event, such as uncertainty or a crisis, which leads to a felt responsibility to act, for instance based on fairness or personal significance, which then leads to a courageous action, such as standing up to authority or protecting those in need.
Based on Dr. Roberson’s research, there are nuances in the situations and decision-making calculations that go into diversity courage. Rather than being triggered by a specific event, diversity courage often shows up in response to something more systemic, such as an organization’s culture or norms. Another key difference is in what people consider when they are deciding whether or not to act—in garden variety courage, people tend to focus on the responsibility to act whereas in diversity courage, people focus on the potential risk associated with acting. Like the triggers, the outcomes of diversity courage also tend to go beyond any single event, for example, bridging cultural gaps or challenging the status quo.
How Credit Union Leaders Can Foster Diversity Courage
Credit union leaders can create an environment that supports and encourages these behaviors. Here are some ways they can do this:
- Foster psychological safety
- Normalize vulnerability
- Empower through education and skill development
- Role model the behaviors you want to see
- Voice values and commitment to diversity and equity
- Address diversity-related challenges
- Build allyship and support networks
- Share "microphones and spotlights"
- Facilitate mentoring and sponsorship
- Create a culture of courage.
- Institutionalize fairness and recognize supportive behavior
- Encourage collective engagement and action
