By: Talisa “Tali” Lavarry
Leaders have the ability to shape organizations, communities, societies, and nations. An equitable leader understands the needs of all those serving in an organization. Equity refers to fairness and justice and thrives only under an equitable leaders’ leadership. It hinges on providing people with what they need, where they need it, and when they need it. An equitable leader ensures the success and growth of the entire organization instead of focusing on his victory. He/She knows that the success of the whole organization is more important than their own. An equitable leader must possess the following components;
Components of an equitable leader
- Creates an inclusive environment
An equitable leader focuses on creating an inclusive environment where all people from all backgrounds are included. Not only this, they are given equal chances of learning and performing. An equitable leader finds ways to reach all staff members, i.e., the executive team and overlooked staff. Moreover, they do not take all credit for success or blame failure on one individual. They know how to keep everyone together and celebrate success or failure together.
- Distributes resources equally
An equitable leader ensures an equal distribution of resources among all members of an organization. For this purpose, they rely on data. In a fair leadership, those groups with the loudest noise do not get the most share of resources. Instead, the voiceless, overlooked, underrated, and underprivileged get their share.
- Considers the impact of his decisions on all members
An equitable leader does not impose decisions on all without considering the implications of their choices on underprivileged members of their organization. They assess their decisions thoroughly before implementing them. For instance, they know that delegating work to be done at home may disturb someone’s private life. Thus, they are careful not interfere in someone’s personal life while finding a way to manage business successfully.
- Gives voice to the voiceless
An equitable leader gives voice to the voiceless by valuing the opinion of those neglected in an organization. They develop policies and structures that ensure the representation of all. For example, they prioritize the constant evaluation and feedback from all members of an organization. Moreover, they consistently treat everyone with respect. They realize that the absence of respect is not equivalent to the presence of respect. They ensure that everyone is respected in the organization. While making sure they themselves trust everyone, they make sure that all members of their team demonstrate mutual respect for one another.
- Creates equitable work practices
An equitable leader creates equitable working practices. For instance, a team member may be comfortable working from home, or a member may not be available for a particular day. They develop and embrace solutions for all such situations. They don’t hesitate to offer additional support to those that need it. They provide better security to women, such as maternity leave, and they offer flexibility in their schedules.
- Devises DEI policies
An equitable leader devices Diversity,Equity & Inclusion (DEI) policies. They know the importance of the inclusion of people from various backgrounds. They devise strategies that encourage minorities to feel comfortable participating.
- Makes effective communication
An equitable leader knows that effective communication is key to ensuring equality and equity in a workplace. They lead by example and use equitable language. They avoid and discourage the use of discriminatory language in the workplace.
Conclusion
In a nutshell, equitable leadership in the workplace is all about developing a deep level of communication and engagement with everyone. Many would say that it is essential to the success of any organization. However, it should be remembered that equitable leaders are made, not born. Equitable leaders are molded through experience, continued study, and adaptation. Equitable leaders produce more leaders in an organization and keep the environment friendly and healthy. Thus, they are important for the prosperity of any organization.