291: How to Make Work Fair with Siri Chilazi

Siri Chilazi, co-author of the brilliant new book, "Make Work Fair," joins us this week on the Allyship in Action podcast to translate academic research into simple, actionable steps leaders can take. We tackled the "myth of meritocracy," the power of norms, and how to actually embed fairness into our workplaces, not just talk about it. It’s not just about changing systems, it’s also about changing behavior.

Here are the key themes we explored:

• The Myth of Meritocracy: We debunked the idea that hard work automatically equals success, highlighting how biases creep into decisions, even when we think we're being fair. As Siri pointed out, "the world has never actually seen a meritocracy in action yet, and it's the state of the world that we have to create going forward."
• Systems vs. Individual Actions: We delved into the paradox of DEI work, recognizing that both systemic changes and individual actions are crucial. It's not an either-or situation; it's a "both-and." As Siri put it, "systems change is really the thing that works," but it can happen "in both top down ways" and "bottom up ways."
• The Power of Norms: We discussed how norms, or "how we do things around here," significantly influence behavior. Even when people hold virtuous intentions, the perceived norms can sway their actions. Small, everyday moments can either reinforce or shift these norms.
• Leadership and Modeling: We emphasized the importance of leaders modeling inclusive behaviors. Their actions, whether positional or influential, have a ripple effect on the entire organization. "They absolutely are demonstrably more influential at helping to shape norms and change culture for the organization," Siri noted.
• Making Fairness Count: We explored practical ways to embed fairness into systems, particularly performance evaluations, by using data, structured processes, and clear, actionable feedback.

Actionable Takeaway:

Start small by focusing on micro-behaviors. Pay attention to the everyday moments in meetings, feedback sessions, and team interactions. Ask yourself, "Am I contributing to a fair and inclusive environment?" and "What small tweak can I make today?" Remember, change happens one moment at a time.

Insightful Quotes:

• "The world has never actually seen a meritocracy in action yet, and it's the state of the world that we have to create going forward."
• "Systems change is really the thing that works."
• "They absolutely are demonstrably more influential at helping to shape norms and change culture for the organization."
• "There's actually no evidence to suggest that we can fundamentally debias human brains. We can debias our decisions and our behaviors."

You can find Siri Chilazi at https://sirichilazi.com/ and find Julie Kratz at https://www.nextpivotpoint.com/