Cha-cha-changes
Have you heard of the Stages of Change Model? It’s a super handy tool that clinicians use to help our clients assess their readiness to make changes.
According to this model, there are five stages a person goes through to change a behavior: Pre-contemplation, Contemplation, Preparation, Action, and Maintenance. The beauty of this model is that it’s simple, straightforward, and widely applicable. It was designed to be used when helping people make health behavior changes—I got familiar with it when I was working in substance use treatment.
I think it can also be useful for organization leaders assessing where their organization is at with regard to making diversity and inclusion changes!
Maybe you’re in pre-contemplation—making diversity and inclusion changes isn’t even on your radar.
Maybe contemplation—you know you want to help your organization become more welcoming and affirming to people of diverse gender identities, but you’re not sure what those changes would look like.
Maybe preparation—you know you are going to lead your org into making needed changes to be more inclusive, and you’re trying to figure out what resources you need to make sure those changes are substantive and sustainable.
Every stage of this model is valid and essential to the process of making a change—there’s no shame in being in any of these stages. When we use this tool, we do not ask our clients “How do we help you make the change TODAY?” Instead we ask,
“What would it take to move you from the stage you’re in to the next one?”
It’s a question designed to prompt the reflection needed to identify barriers, clarify intentions, and move forward. Thinking about your organization today, what stage of change are you at when it comes to your diversity and inclusion goals? And what do you need to help you move from the stage you’re in to the next one?
Send me your answers—I want to hear from you!
Thanks for sharing this time with me!
Fondly,
Cate
PS If you’re ready to find out more about how I can help your organization move forward toward meeting your diversity and inclusion goals, schedule a complimentary 30 minute consult call with me here: https://www.authenticselfconsulting.com/consulting (Click ‘Get Started’!)