Shazana and Ayshea, two of our Service Managers, recently attended the Clore Social Leadership course. See their reflections on the experience below.
A couple of weeks ago, we attended the final in-person session of the Leadership Lighthouses programme delivered by Clore Social Leadership. Leadership Lighthouses – Clore Social Leadership
Over the last few months, we have had the opportunity to learn alongside leaders from different sectors, all working towards creating positive change in their communities. The programme brought together leaders from Global Majority backgrounds and created space to explore leadership, identity, power, influence and the systems we work within.
As part of the final session, we were asked to reflect on our key takeaways from the programme. A couple of weeks on, we are both still reflecting on the conversations, learning and connections we made throughout the experience.
We felt seen, heard, understood and represented
One of the things that stood out to us from the very beginning was simply being in a space where we were referred to as the Global Majority rather than an ethnic minority. It sounds like a small thing, but it made a huge difference. The term is actually more accurate, recognising that people often described as minorities in the UK make up the majority of the world’s population. It shifted the narrative and created a sense of belonging from day one. Being in a space where we felt seen, heard, understood and represented was incredibly powerful.
The programme also helped us explore systemic racism and the ways in which systems can unintentionally, and sometimes intentionally, create barriers for people from Global Majority backgrounds. Whilst much of this wasn’t new to us, having the language, knowledge and space to explore it with others who shared similar experiences was invaluable.
There is a choice in how we respond to those barriers
One of my (Ayshea’s) biggest takeaways was recognising that there is a choice in how we respond to those barriers. We can choose to navigate them and work our way through them to get where we want to be. We can choose to challenge systems and call out practices that create inequality. Or we can choose to walk away from those battles without feeling guilty that we are somehow letting our communities down. For me that last one was particularly empowering.
Our identity isn’t something we need to manage or tone down
For me, (Shazana), one of the biggest takeaways was that our identity isn’t something we need to manage or tone down. It is one of our greatest strengths. Connecting with like-minded leaders who are all striving for social change, sharing experiences and learning together reaffirmed her commitment to leadership and leading authentically.
“Our actions are only ever as good as our thinking.”
The action learning sets were a real highlight for both of us. They provided a space to reflect, challenge our thinking and learn from others. We also had the opportunity to meet and learn from some truly inspiring leaders throughout the programme.
One quote from Nancy Kline that has stayed with us is: “Our actions are only ever as good as our thinking.”
That quote really captures what the programme was about. Taking time to think, reflect, listen and challenge our assumptions before moving into action.
We don’t see this learning as something that sits separately from our day jobs
As managers at Staying Put, we don’t see this learning as something that sits separately from our day jobs. It will influence how we lead our teams, how we develop services and how we support the people who access them.
The programme has encouraged us to be more curious, to create more opportunities for reflection and to continue having conversations about equity, representation and belonging. It has reinforced the importance of listening to different perspectives and recognising that the systems people are navigating don’t impact everyone in the same way.
Creating environments where staff, volunteers and the people we support feel valued, respected
For us, this learning isn’t about having all the answers. It’s about continuing to learn, being open to challenge and creating environments where staff, volunteers and the people we support feel valued, respected and able to bring their whole selves into the space.
We are incredibly grateful to Clore Social Leadership, the facilitators and everyone who shared their experiences so openly throughout the programme. We leave with new knowledge, new connections and plenty to reflect on, and we look forward to bringing that learning into our work across Staying Put.