What Do You Need? by Lauren Wesley Wilson
“I want women of color to successfully navigate the workforce as it currently exists, because if we sit back and wait for systems to change, we could be waiting forever.”
3 Main Messages:
Women of colour pay double minority tax and so need both system change and allies.
Connection and community are built both ways.
Equity and inclusion increase the bottom line and benefit everyone.
The title itself is a great start. It’s a question we should be frequently asking ourselves and each other! All too often we rush in to help, while making assumptions and frequently make things worse, by not simply slowing down and asking this one simple question.
So what do women of colour need in order to survive, succeed and thrive in the workplace? Lauren Wesley Wilson knows because she has been asking women this question for years. She is the CEO of Colorcomm Corporation, a network of 100,000+ women who advance women in business through networking events.
According to one article on the Colorcomm website, what women need is financial literacy, a strong network and an understanding that no-one is expected or able to be perfect. Wesley Wilson goes much further. Her book is broken down into 4 parts: Finding your place, Establishing your position, Forging your future and Becoming an ally. While the first three sections are an essential read, it is the last one which I felt was the most useful for me.
It is true (I can testify to this) that white colleagues often don’t know what good allyship looks like. Perhaps reading this book is a good starting place! By doing so, it will build an understanding of the efforts it takes to fit into an established work culture where you look different; of how hard it can be to find connections and allies in the workplace; of how privilege shows up in many different forms, from education, wealth and experiences, to prebuilt networks.
The first part of the book focusses on fitting in and the importance of having a diverse team. Wesley Wilson advocates for playing the long game, making meaningful connections and going above and beyond at work to show your potential and that you care. If the section has one main message, it is: JOIN IN!
We all want to belong where we work, and most of us put on our professional persona when we get there. Wesley Wilsons says that “to belong is to be seen, heard, respected and valued.” Too often women of colour report feeling that they are there to represent and answer questions for their whole race, rather than be seen as an individual, hired for their unique skills and abilities. So where to start? By getting to know each person properly; including everyone; consulting people; recognising, praising and raising everyone.
Wesley Wilson goes on to explain the advantages of the halo effect and the all-to-real scenario of the glass cliff. She suggests many solutions, including effective use of holidays and personal days. It was her emphasis on the need for each of us to have a coach which stood out for me. She writes about her positive personal experiences of working with a coach who was able to support her in finding clarity and purpose. She explains the importance of having “clarity around why you’re doing the work you’re doing, and how it will serve you in the end.” A coach is one more ally in your corner who will help you to unpick assumptions and see opportunities..
One of the things which struck me most about this book is the power and determination it contains. This is not a book looking for sympathy. It is written from experience and from multiple conversations and anecdotes with the purpose of empowering women of colour to recognise reality and understand what they need to do to succeed. What a shame the book had to be written in the first place.
I have long wanted to be an ally for women of colour but didn’t know where to start. It transpires that reading this book was exactly what I needed. Writing this review and sharing it with you is my first step.
What do YOU need?
