Why Leaders need humanity right now…
It’s easy to be a leader when the lines of right and wrong are clear in front of us.
I saw it so abundantly when the people of Ukraine needed help. And rightly so.
But where is this same level of allyship or strength of leadership when the people in question are Palestinian?
Because all of a sudden, we’re not so sure who is “right”, and we don’t want to say the wrong thing because we really don’t understand it, so we simply say nothing. Because it’s easier, right?
Except as leaders in business, there is an increasing and continuous need for us to be able to understand and respond to global crises. Why? Because we’d better believe that if we’re feeling a certain type of way when we watch the news, our people are, too. Especially if our people are from Jewish or Muslim communities or have any connections to the regions or history of SWANA (South West Asia and North Africa).
[side note: I’m using the term SWANA in place of “Middle East”, which is likely what you will be more familiar with because in my work of decolonisation, I am attempting not to position Europe as the central region of the world. Therefore, rather than referring to this region as “Middle East” or positioned as “east of Europe”, I want to be more geographically correct.]
So, as leaders, we cannot remain silent on this topic. We must acknowledge the pain that so many of our peers and colleagues must be feeling and not add layers of harm to this by ignoring it with our silence.
Especially when all reports indicate that there is a worrying rise in Antisemitic and Islamophobic hate crimes here in the UK and around the world.
So, as I said at the beginning, our allyship as leaders can feel incredibly overwhelming, especially at times like this. What do we say? And how?
As a leader, it can be tempting to feel like you always have the answers and that you’re on top of exactly what to say all of the time. Inclusive leaders know how to role model vulnerability and curiosity. Don’t be afraid to engage with your people on a human-to-human level. See them and acknowledge their emotions. It’s not about right or wrong; it’s about being human at a time when humanity is failing all of us.
So here are some steps you can take today to help:
Checking in with colleagues individually.
Allow space for grief, particularly with those who have family directly impacted.
Create spaces to make sense of what’s going on in the world.
Prioritise care and mental health needs of your team, sharing resources that you have available.
Encouraging regular breaks from the news cycle.
AND do the same for yourself, too:
Educate yourself as best you can about what is happening in the region AND take time to protect your own mental health and wellbeing, too.
Continue to do your learning about racism and colonialism, as this will help you understand the “why” behind the crisis.
Take action as an ally in the best way you know how and listen to the people around you.
Some resources are here to help:
Right To Be offer FREE bystander training to help you understand Islamophobia, Xenophobia, and Antisemitism and how to intervene if required.
Empire is a Spotify podcast that will help you understand the history of the region.
Find out if your MP is in support of a ceasefire in the region HERE, and if not, write to them to encourage them to support the motion.
Take time out for yourself too. Get fresh air, move your body, sit quietly, whatever you need.
It IS important for you to show up for your people right now. Please don’t stay silent. AND please also show up for yourself. Allyship is tough, and we are needed more than error when times are tough. But we don’t need to “tough it out”. Show up as best you can, in the ways that you can, on the days that you can.