Beauty & Belonging

Since the watershed moment of George Floyd's killing, we, as a country, have been consumed with diversity and equity.  It has become its own department or committee in many environments. D & E, as it is affectionately known are quantifiable ideas, but their counterpart of inclusion, not so much.  Inclusion is the distant cousin to D & E that is never invited to the family reunion.  It is nuanced and harder to define as it can refer to anything from familial status to faith to hair. D & E has become a platform that empowers us to be our authentic selves but is that possible without a feeling of belonging?

 Haus of Zuri spoke with Human Resources Professional, and Certified Development Facilitator, Crystal M. Willams to better understand inclusive corporate environments and their impact on talent. 

For the last decade, Williams has managed talent acquisition and workforce planning across various disciplines. Williams’ ongoing contact with the talent pool has allowed her to understand and empathize with the needs of todays employee.

When asked, if hair impacts the way we are perceived in the workplace? Williams responded all things impact the way we are perceived in the workplace.  Williams went on to say the focus should not be on the perception but whether employees see others like themselves in the workplace or environment.  

How does psychological safety contribute to inclusivity? It is important for people to feel included as that makes us feel safe. Since COVID there has become this integration of the work place with the home life, that require greater flexibility and understanding of the employer.  It is important that organizations are creating spaces where employees feel seen and heard.

What is a tip that you might give an employer struggling to tap into a diverse market? Make sure that talent can see themselves reflected in your organization. 

Are there ways that organizations can assist employees in recognizing threats to inclusion? There is training to help people understand that basic concept but beyond that it’s up to the individual to be more conscious of what they say and how they say it. To the extent that does not happen it's important for organizations to have a mechanism where these difficult conversations can happen. 

What does the phrase "Where Beauty Lives" mean to you? Beauty is everywhere its not limited to one thing or one space, it's all around us, its just a matter of how we see it.  

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