Leadership
Leaders have a particular responsibility to embed intersectionality in action in order to increase equity.
Part of the 'Equity Change Project'
Introduction
This section will help you to take a lead in embedding intersectionality to increase equity.
We cover the importance of intersectional leadership, and explore how intersectionality can help decolonise organisations by making visible the way power has influenced their structure and purpose.
We explore how leaders can act as role models and how an intersectional approach enhances existing work to increase equality, diversity and inclusion.
Watch our short film for an introduction to intersectional leadership.
Length: 5 minutes.
Analogy - Shift the view
When you look at a huge intersection, you’ll see a lot of roads, a lot of traffic and a lot of unknowns. If you’re not sure where you’re going, you can be lost; position matters. What is needed is to get a different view or perspective. This might involve shifting to higher ground or lower, moving away or moving closer, or standing in someone else’s shoes. When we shift our view, we raise our awareness and create space to reflect. This leads to more effective action.
Supporting intersectionality
The following sections considers the role leaders play in embedding intersectionality.
Explore how intersectional leadership challenges unequal power relationships and helps leaders act ethically.
How can using an intersectional lens help us to decolonise organisations?
Who’s leading in social work?: Report
Adult Principal Social Workers Network. (2017). Who is leading the way? An introductory report on the world of social work leadership.
Decolonization is not a metaphor: Article
Tuck, E., & Yang, K. W. (2012). Decolonization is not a metaphor. Decolonization: Indigeneity, Education & Society, 1(1), 1–40.
Innovating pedagogy – new forms of learning to guide educators: Report
Ferguson, R., Coughlan, T., & Egelandsdal, K., et al. (2019). Innovating pedagogy 2019: Exploring new forms of teaching, learning and assessment, to guide educators and policy makers. Open University Innovation Report 7. The Open University.
Black Lives Matter special edition: Journal editorial
Nayak, S., & Williams, C. (2022). Black Lives Matter special edition: Critical and Radical Social Work ten years on. Critical and Radical Social Work, 10(2), 170–177. DOI: 10.1332/204986021X16557334670047
An intersectional model of reflection: Article
Nayak, S. (2022). An intersectional model of reflection: Is social work fit for purpose in an intersectionally racist world? Critical and Radical Social Work, 10(2), 319–334. DOI: 10.1332/204986021X16555682461270
Equality, diversity and inclusion – managers’ team meeting conversation guide: Guidance
Leadership and Management Academy, & EDI Coordinators Team. (2020). Let’s be clear about EDI: Manager’s team meeting conversation guide 1. October–December 2020. University of Nottingham.
The key to inclusive leadership: Article
Bourke, J., & Titus, A. (2020, March 6). The key to inclusive leadership. Harvard Business Review.
Leadership tips for diversity and inclusion: Video
LinkedIn Talent Solutions. (2019, November 4). Talent on Tap: Leadership tips for diversity and inclusion. YouTube. Uzo Akotaobi talks about the steps all leaders can take to foster diversity and inclusion in their business.
Diversity, equity and inclusion leadership: Video
Ensemble Health Partners. (2021, April 27). Operator Insights: Workplace diversity, equity and inclusion best practices. YouTube. Richard Lewis of Ensemble Health Partners talks about the purpose and value of diversity, equity and inclusion programmes in the workplace, and shares some best practices.
Getting serious about diversity and inclusion in the workplace: Video
Stovall, J. (2018, July.) How to get serious about diversity and inclusion in the workplace. TED Conferences. Inclusion advocate Janet Stovall sets out a three-part action plan for creating a genuinely inclusive workplace.
Equality, diversity and inclusion statements for social work
Equality, diversity and inclusion statements. British Association of Social Workers.
Workforce race equality in the NHS?: Briefing
Kline, R. (2015). Beyond the snowy white peaks of the NHS? A Race Equality Foundation briefing paper. Race Equality Foundation.
