I spend almost everyday in my business talking to online business owners about racial equity. It’s an incredibly valuable experience to have a front row seat to the beliefs they have around inclusion. It’s allowed me to understand at a deeper level why there is often resistance around doing racial equity work.
A lot of them have the belief that if they are attracting people of colour into their offers then they are being inclusive. Which is great and we need more of that which is part of what I teach as a racial equity coach. But that’s just one part of solving the issue. Just because you are attracting people of colour doesn’t automatically mean that one is inclusive.
So when they see information on how to be racially inclusive in their business, they think it’s not for them because they are already inclusive.
Here’s how some of our conversations unfold ⤵️
“I have such a diverse group of clients and I’m supporting more women of colour than I ever have in my business.”
I love hearing that type of feedback but when you open the racial diversity door in your business, be prepared to be intentionally inclusive because diversity doesn’t equal inclusion.
I’ll say it again, diversity doesn’t equal inclusion.
The belief that you are already inclusive because you support people of colour in your business can actually be a barrier to doing real work towards racial equity. And so I want to spend some time today unpacking why this type of thinking is a barrier to racial equity work and the opportunity to self-reflect and the next steps you can take.
Sound good?
Let’s go 👍🏾
Firstly, it is important to recognise that having clients who are people of colour does not automatically make a business inclusive. Inclusion goes beyond simply having diverse clients. It involves actively creating a welcoming environment for all your clients, regardless of their race or ethnicity.
This means examining one’s own biases and privileges, acknowledging the systemic oppression that people of colour face, and actively working towards dismantling those systems. Merely having diverse clients does not automatically mean that a business owner is doing this work.
Furthermore, it is important to recognise that being a “good person” or not being intentionally discriminatory does not necessarily mean that one is not contributing to systemic racism. Systemic racism refers to the ways in which institutions and policies create and perpetuate racial inequities. Even if you are not intentionally discriminatory, your business practices may still be contributing to these inequities.
An example of how I see this playing out is the reliance on networks that only include white people. This could be the guest experts you have in your program, your podcast, event, the support coaches in your mastermind or even the resources available for deeper learning that are only authored by white people.
Another example of how you might be aiding systems of exclusion is through the language you are using or the images in your marketing materials that uphold one type of narrative, from a dominant group.
In order to truly address racial equity, you must be willing to examine your own practices and identify where you may be contributing to systems of exclusion. And this may not be something easy for you to do as a business owner so close to your work, you may not even know how you are excluding.
Investing in racial equity work is a great way to keep your biases in check. Our implicit biases are not something we can automatically switch off but the more we are exposed to the ways we are biassed and stereotype certain groups of people, the more we can work towards reducing our biases and ultimately begin operating through a more inclusive lens.
I cannot overstate the importance of doing this work. The more you understand how inclusion plays a role in who says yes to working with you and who invests in someone else will help you serve from a place of deeper impact.
Plus investing in racial equity work is not just the right thing to do, it is also good for business. Studies have shown that diverse teams are more innovative and perform better than homogenous ones. So when you are looking to hire support in your business or outsource support, begin to think of how you can include people who don’t look like you but will bring a ton of value to your business.
By investing in racial equity work, you can create a more inclusive environment for your clients, which in turn can lead to increased profitability and success.
As our communities become more diverse, businesses that do not prioritise inclusion and racial equity will find themselves falling behind. This is something I’ve shared before around people of colour being the Global Majority. If you are not serving them, you are not only leaving money on the table but it’s affecting the sustainability of your business.
So how can you invest in racial equity work as an online business owner?
Here are 3 steps they can take 👣
👩🏻🎓 You’ve probably heard me say this before, but I’ll keep saying it because this is life-long work you need to be plugged into. Start by educating yourself on issues related to systemic racism and how it affects people of colour. If you’ve already started educating yourself, great. But you need to be in continuous learning. And I don’t mean consuming for the sake of it. It’s about being intentional about learning and taking the next step from there which is action.
🔎 Examine your own business practices and identify where you may be contributing to exclusion. This may involve engaging a DEI consultant to look into your business such as your offers, marketing and operations.
🤝🏽 Actively work to create a more inclusive environment for your clients. Get into the habit of surveying your clients to find out how you can be more inclusive and serve them at a deeper level. Once you get this feedback, it may involve providing DEI training, creating resources from a diverse pool of experts or partnering/collaborating with a racial equity coach to support your business.
I hope you now understand that simply having clients who are people of colour does not automatically make you inclusive. By investing in racial equity work, you can create a more welcoming environment for all your clients that leads to a more sustainable and profitable business.
One thing I know for sure is racial equity work is not something you can do on your own. It’s work that requires support and care. An environment that nurtures you to grow even when it is uncomfortable. And that’s why I’ve created a business centred on grace allowing my clients to come as they are regardless of where they are on their racial awareness journey. A space where they can feel safe to ask uncomfortable questions and a place where they can make mistakes and still feel ok to show up, do better and continue on this life-long journey.
One of the ways I can support you at a deeper level beyond this blog is by inviting you to join the waitlist to my 10 week program REPRESENTED where I teach you the foundations of building a racially equitable business. The next round is in September & I’d love to support you in there. You can find out more and join the waitlist here.
With Love,
Annie
How I can support you:
👉🏾 Want a private space where you can unpack what’s coming up for you as a coach as you dive into racial equity work? Book a 1:1 consultation.
👉🏾 Want to take your allyship to the next level and help your clients in the process too? Book me to come in as a masterclass guest teacher for your group program.
👉🏾 Are you a woman of colour coach needing support to grow your coaching business? I’d love to help you grow a sustainable and profitable business. Find out more and book a clarity call.
