Challenge Tips

In a busy workplace, it’s easy for the voices of the minority to get drowned out by the majority. If you have privilege and a platform, why not use them to help those who don’t?

The tricky part is deciphering which voices need amplification — it’s not always clear-cut. When someone is marginalized or overshadowed by dominant narratives and perspectives in the workplace, they may experience:

• Limited opportunities (e.g., fewer chances for advancement, leadership roles, or participation in decision-making processes)
• Lack of representation (e.g., they're underrepresented or ignored in discussions, meetings, or projects)
• Microaggressions (e.g., commenting on how well someone of a different nationality speaks English or presuming that a person of a certain race is dangerous)
• Feeling isolated (e.g., they're excluded from social gatherings, networking opportunities, etc.)
• Unequal treatment (e.g., they're assigned less-desirable tasks or get less recognition for their contributions)
• Disregard for expertise (e.g., their ideas are often not asked for, dismissed, or attributed to others)
• Lack of support (e.g., colleagues or supervisors offer minimal mentorship, guidance, or camaraderie)

Identify ways to amplify these voices in your workplace. Try any of these ideas:

• Share their stories and contributions during team meetings.
• Highlight their achievements in newsletters or internal communications.
• Invite them to speak at professional events.
• Share posts, articles, and resources on social media that showcase the perspectives of marginalized colleagues.
• Look for opportunities to collaborate with marginalized colleagues.

Did you know socialization strengthens nurse well-being? Learn more about the power of camaraderie.

How are you doing in the challenge so far? Share with us here, in our private Facebook group, or on Twitter, or Instagram - Tag us with #healthynurse! 

Find this helpful? Forward this email to a nurse friend or colleague and encourage them to sign up for the challenge at hnhn.org/challenges.

Join us on day 7 - A sneak peek: Do you challenge biased or discriminatory language when you hear it?

Missed Day 5? Catch up here.