by Annie Davidson
July 11, 2023
As shared in the last issue of Our Perspectives, we collected examples of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) journeys from several Smithbucklin client organizations to inspire you. But how do you introduce the topic with your board of directors? We’re sharing advice and tips from Smithbucklin executive directors on how to approach your association’s DEI conversations.
Take the temperature
Kim Wiatr, CAE, executive director, Association for Clinical and Translational Science (ACTS), suggests taking a litmus test of where your board is at in their DEI journey and where they want to go. “If they do not have a passion or desire for change, it will be harder to implement and get buy-in from members,” she shared.
If your board isn’t ready for the discussion, your first step might be to gather data to drive home the importance of DEI and potential benefits of change. “Keep bringing up the topic, if at first you don't succeed,” says Jeff Lambert, executive director, National Demolition Association (NDA).
Start with communication
While it can be tempting to dive into action, taking a step back and approaching DEI as a conversation may be the best approach, especially if your board or committee is unsure of where to start. “Our board members are naturally driven toward outcomes and deliverables,” says Denise Roosendaal, FASAE, CAE, executive director, Institute for Credentialing Excellence (I.C.E.). I.C.E. instead started each DEI committee meeting with an open discussion about anything from current events that the group wished to discuss. “Sometimes those discussions took up the entire meeting but were invaluable in establishing trust and a shared understanding of the issues,” shared Roosendaal.
Prioritize, guide, and measure
If your board is motivated to act, it is important to narrow the tasks that are achievable and impactful, as opposed to trying to tackle everything at once. “Focus on two to three things that you know will have an impact,” suggests Peter Finn, executive director, International Association of Business Communicators (IABC).
Once you start executing tactics and strategies, it is important to give clear guidance to volunteers who want to help. “Be specific about what volunteers can do to be impactful,” said Kathleen Callahan, executive director, Chicago Estate Planning Council (CEPC). “Everyone wants to help, but not everyone knows what to do or has time to figure it out. Have a very specific volunteer handbook.”
Understanding the impact of your actions is also critical to ensure tactics are having the intended effect. “Start tracking success if it can be measured in numbers or in a tangible way,” suggests Callahan.
Commit and evolve
As you move ahead, it is important to “make your commitment to DEI very clear,” shared Guilherme Lopes, executive director, International Society of Transport Aircraft Trading (ISTAT). “Establish a DEI committee with board members who are passionate about the topic.”
Above all, understand that we won’t have all the answers right away. “Be open minded and learn,” advises Steve Kemp, CAE, executive director, Human Factors & Ergonomics Society (HFES). Our understanding of DEI is evolving every day, so the journey of learning, adjusting, and implementing new plans is ongoing.
Annie Davidson is in Corporate Marketing at Smithbucklin.