Donald Thompson: Benefiting from the privilege of being a business leader

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Editor’s note: Veteran investor and entrepreneur Donald Thompson writes about leadership, opportunity, diversity and other business issues for WRAL TechWire. His columns will appear on Wednesday. Jackie Ferguson, host of the podcast Diversity: Beyond the Checkbox, ”co-wrote today’s column.

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK -Recently, some of the most common questions I hear from my friends and colleagues are centered around the concept of privilege: What does it mean? What should I do about it? How can I find out more?

Often, the way people talk about privilege makes it seem like a black and white topic – as if you either have it, or you don’t – but privilege is more complicated than that. We all have varying degrees of privilege and disadvantage that impact how we see and move through the world.

When we think of privilege as something that has and doesn’t have, we make it a divisive issue, but when taught appropriately, it is an exercise in compassion. It brings us together, rather than pushing us. It keeps us aware of how often we assume the conditions of someone elses life and may not be aware of the obstacles theyve overcome to get where they are.

As leaders, one of the most powerful things we can do for our teams is to learn about and recognize our own privilege. Then, leverage it. Theres no need to apologize for your privilege. Use it to open doors. That way, privilege becomes part of active, conscious, daily fellowship, and gives us a way to train ally with others. When we offer our teams the opportunity to learn more about the privilege, with additional resources such as articles, books, and podcasts to explore it on their own, we model and show them that diversity means more than just race and gender.

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I have many privileges. Among them was that I had two loving parents, that I grew up in a house where I felt safe, that I grew up speaking English in schools where the lessons were also in English, that the My gender identity aligns with the sex I was assigned at birth, that I am a person in the tech industry and I have the power and authority of my position in the C-suite. Yet there are also ways in which I am sometimes at a disadvantage by other people’s perceptions of who I am and what I am capable of.

Writing this weekly column is also a privilege because I have a great opportunity to share my life lessons and leadership philosophy to help other people challenge their thinking. This week, I want to use that privilege to pass the microphone to one of the experts from my team at The Difference Movement: Jackie Ferguson, Head of Content and Programming. Jackie and the team regularly host virtual privilege walks to explore the concept of privilege, and in March, she published a longer version of this extraordinary article in Forbes. I’m sharing it here because I know it will help you to refame the privilege and use it as a leader.

Privilege Is Not a Dirty Word

As a Certified Diversity Executive and a teacher, part of my job is uncomfortable conversation. At The Diversity Movement, we talk about racism, bias and exclusion every day. We dive deep into microaggression, discrimination and identification. But privilege is the one word and subject that always fuels a strong allergic reaction.

For many people, privilege is a dirty word. It carries a stain that feels embarrassing and heavy. People who align themselves with privilege are often conscientious and ashamed of it, and people who disagree with privilege are generally ashamed as well. With such a mindset, its easy to believe there are only two sides of the coin. But, as someone who has led thousands of people through the Virtual Privilege walk, I promise you thats just not true.

Lets get levelset

Privilege is a complex topic because people often associate it with a race, a gender or a background, and because it is sometimes interpreted as carrying an accusation or a condemnation. However, to move beyond the resistance I see often associated with the notion of privilege – and subsequent leverage of its benefits – the first thing we need to do is expand its scope. The privilege is not exclusive to White people, men or wealthy, nor is it everywhere within identity groups. For example, we often hear the word white privilege, but do we consider the privilege of having two supportive parents? Being financially secure? Of mobility? Of physical safety in daily life?

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Privilege can be seen in many situations, many lifestyles and many demographics. We all see the world through our own limited frames of experience. Almost every one of us has some privileges that we can use to build a better culture, and almost every one of us has also overcome some challenges. The more we are able to levelset the concept of privilege – and to be clear, not the experience of privilege but the concept of privilege – the more we recognize and talk about it.

Not about you, its bias

Privileges often have nothing to do with how hard you, personally, worked. At Privilege Walks, many people point out to me that they work hard for their successes. I think its important to celebrate accomplishments and, at the same time, remember that privilege doesn’t necessarily reflect on you so much as the perception and opinion of others about who you are and what youre capable of. Do you feel safe, appreciated and welcome in every situation in your daily life? It is important to recognize that not everyone has equal privileges.

Privilege doesn’t mean you don’t work hard; it simply means having additional barriers for you to overcome on your path to success because of your identity, background, history, or culture. Often, the concept of privilege feels plaintiff, and so we become defensive and resistant. We are asked to acknowledge and evaluate our privilege without knowing what to do with that knowledge. What are the next steps? Where am I going here

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Understanding privilege is a step towards empathy and can help to build a more inclusive culture. It helps us realize that there is so much more to people than the few personas they introduce to us. Each of us has a complete iceberg identity: parts of us hand up high for the public to watch, but there is so much more hidden beneath the surface.

Pay for your privilege

When I talk about privilege, I ask people to focus on the future. If they discover high levels of privilege in our walk, I ask them to use the benefits advocate for equity and inclusion across their organizations and communities. If they find that they have overcome significant barriers, I ask them to use that experience to inspire others to become compassionate leaders and drivers of culture.

At The Diversity Movement, we focus on changing action and behavior, not just awareness. We know that recognition of privilege does not naturally lead to altered behavior. In other words, it’s not enough just to recognize your privileges and challenges. Go and put them to work! Whether your privilege is abundant or difficult, you can use the power of your experience to advocate for others. Your voice is very important to your teammate.

There are two main ways to pay your privileges forward: time and resources. Invest your time by volunteering or teaching. Accept more than 20 minutes (virtual) cups of coffee to give aspiring professionals actionable advice and a moment of real networking connection. Diversify your release of resources by supporting diverse cultures of businesses, offering internships and investments to startups led by lesser representative founders. Pour out on others, especially those who missed out on your privileges.

Using your privilege and paying for it encourages cross-cultural and cross-experiential empathy, providing real opportunities to see beyond the professional persona and connect with people on a more personal level. In doing so, we can destigmatize the privilege and instead unlock its potential.

About the author

Jackie Ferguson is a Certified Diversity Executive, co-founder and Head of Content and Programming for The Diversity Movement, and host of the podcast Diversity: Beyond the Checkbox. Shes also a member of the National Diversity Council and Forbes Business Council.

Donald Thompson is an entrepreneur, public speaker, author, podcaster, and executive coach, recently named as one of the Forbes Next 1000: Upstart Entrepreneurs Redefining the American Dream. He is also co-founder and CEO of The Diversity Movement, a results-focused, data-driven strategic partner for full organizational diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. He is also a board member for numerous marketing, healthcare, banking, technology and sports organizations, a Certified Diversity Executive (CDE), and a leader of goal success thinking and influencing company culture. . You can connect with Donald on LinkedIn and at donaldthompson.com.

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