To Lead Holistically, Reform Your Insides

A Reminder To Keep Doing The Work

In order to lead from a holistic center, where we see the humanity in our team and rise to our goals, we must be willing to do the internal work. Effective leadership development for young professionals starts here. The idea that we have a professional persona separate from our personal selves prevents us from seeing how our worldviews affect the work we do in the workplace. I’ve experienced, as have my peers, leaders who speak one way after hours but whose decisions remain driven by the bottom line at work. Well-meaning directors, CEOs, and managers attend DEI trainings and learn the vocabulary, but when they remain unwilling to shift their framework, nothing lands, workplace culture doesn’t improve, and people get hurt.

Early career and leadership development must have social justice work interwoven in order to teach up-and-coming leaders how to apply it in real-world settings. For those focused on career growth in their 20s and 30s, this is essential. Before the fundraising, power-centered, and contract-pleasing ways of the past get set in your leadership style, open your heart and mind to dismantling racism, the patriarchy, and ableism. The earlier you begin merging human rights with whichever career track you’re on, the smoother the integration becomes—and the stronger your long-term impact as a leader.

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This is where I must stress that you have to do the work personally because of your own motivations and values. Self-awareness in leadership is a critical skill. Unlock your ego and learn how you may be supporting harmful systems in your day-to-day interactions, including at work. Learn the impact of these stereotypes and the ripple effect they have on team dynamics and employee well-being. Gain tools to remind yourself, invite others into the conversation, and build accountability partnerships in your professional and personal life. Let your heart break as you understand how the patriarchy prevents humanity from connecting and growing to our full potential. Relish in the joy of understanding the possibilities that open up when equity, inclusion, and liberation are at the core of your motivation.

As a coordinator and then manager at non-profits, I began adding human-centered policies into program development to support a healthy workplace culture. It didn’t need a separate section or an additional meeting time. The policies became part of the culture and conversation expectations. I had to prepare for resistance and tough blowback, but the leadership skills and resources were out there to expand my toolkit and support sustainable organizational change.

I’ve noticed the most change in my gut reaction. Even if I’m not sure how to respond in the moment, my body tells me when an oppressive system is being upheld by a certain comment. Then I can regroup, circle back, and offer a correction with my peers. This is part of developing emotional intelligence and awareness in the workplace. If you’re just trying to fill a quota, you’ve missed the mark. Change how you listen, especially as a working professional navigating complex environments—let it make you uncomfortable in order to reform the system and contribute to meaningful workplace change.

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If you would benefit from resource recommendations, send me an email.