COACHING AT WORK ANNUAL VIRTUAL CONFERENCE – DAY 1: 25 NOVEMBER 2020
Grace Owens welcomed delegates on her journey towards “decolonising” leadership development, issuing an invitation to join the growing numbers of people scrutinising basic assumptions, constructs and default preferences about the way we operate in the world.
Owens is academy and programmes director at Common Purpose in the UK, leading the implementation of a five-year, multimillion, intergenerational, multicultural, bilingual leadership development portfolio. She invited those of us seeking to “decolonise” their coaching in a “racialised world” to explore becoming colour conscious rather than colour blind, stay alert and beware of complacency, and reflect deeply on their practice, among others.
Owens eloquently advocated for leadership development around inclusion, freedom and equity, where leaders bring their whole selves into the world and get to realise the fullness of their potential in safe, inclusive, creative and nourishing learning spaces. She highlighted a number of potential actions for those wishing to be involved in making this happen. These included debunking myths, speaking truth to power, flipping narratives, changing structures, improving racial literacy/equity and busting stereotypes.
Others included interrogating assumptions, consciousness raising, staying with discomfort, calling out, courageous conversations, holding safe spaces, resilience building and white allyship.