When Your Efforts to Be Inclusive Misfire

You accidentally cause harm to others when you call out injustice. Perhaps you use words that some find offensive, or you neglect to name all of the groups that are suffering the injustice, or you make some other mistake that you don't know until someone brings it to your attention. What matters is how you respond. The author, an HR leader and DEI expert, offers guidance for how to respond when called out for making a mistake. She suggests that you own it, that you create a space for dialogue, learning, and humility, that you model courageous conversations, and that you call in a friend for feedback. Don't let your fear of making another mistake hold you back.

I know that words matter in high-stakes moments. I know how hard it is to get them right. When you harm others, how you respond is crucial.