I am aghast at the unforgivable killings of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor and George Floyd among many other injustices. Images are immensely powerful, and these incidents are a continuing part of the racial injustices that have existed. Black Lives Matter and I stand in solidarity.
We as leadership coaches are catalysts for growth through meaningful personal, professional, organizational and social change. We have open mindsets and want to challenge ourselves and clients to be the best and most productive people and organizations.
We are all leaders and so must ask ourselves, “what can I do to grow and support Black Lives Matter”? I will continue to commit myself to a “coaching mindset” through which I will take stock of the following:
My values. Live by respect, integrity, equality, collaboration, humility, and community.
My listening skills. Listen to black coaches, athletic directors, and leaders of inner-city non-profit organizations, among others.
My learning mindset. I am and will amp up my curiosity about people, issues, and organizations so I continue be more informed and learn about racial injustices. Moving forward I will include relevant information in my communication channels. I will invite Black, Latino, Indigenous, and other relevant voices in my recorded conversations. They have much to share about leadership, experience, and life, relevant to all of us.
My empathy. I will pay special attention to understanding how people feel to build mutual trust.
Ed Bradley, former co-host of CBS 60 Minutes, once said, “Sometimes we just need to wait to talk”.
I am committed to listening and learning. I welcome all feedback or questions so we as a leadership coaching community in college athletics can continue to grow.
