In today’s episode, Laura welcomes certified mediator, restorative and transformative justice practitioner as well as organizational effectiveness coach, consultant, and facilitator, Lauren Lofton, to discuss nonbinary identity at work.
You’ll gain an understanding of how terms and definitions within gender identity evolve over time, and many resources to increase your knowledge and understanding within this space. You’ll increase your understanding of individual and systemic ways to support nonbinary people at work.
Additionally, you’ll recognize that there are many ways that we may mess up when building new behaviors in the workplace. When mistakes do happen, it is critical to be gracious, recognize the mistake, and ask how to make amends going forward. You’ll hear a personal example within this episode illustrating these behaviors.
You’ll also learn about workplace policies and systems that can be used to increase the belonging and safety of all people, and the importance of knowing what your organization is doing within those practices and how they can improve. Also, find out about the tangible things that a leader can do to build a connection with their team on these topics, and ways to go beyond allyship.
Thank you for tuning in! If you haven’t listened to episode 61 where Laura and Karen Gamba talk about how you can build a personal brand tied to your values, then go back and check it out!
In this episode, we cover:
-How terms and definitions in the LGBTQIA+ community can be represented in the workplace.
-Ways to check in with your workplace and see what they are doing to include everyone.
-What it means to be in the learning zone vs. the panic zone.
-How to bridge and make more connections between different communities.
-The importance of having tough conversations and giving and receiving feedback.
-Tangible things that a leader can do to build connections with their team.
-The difference between being an ally and being an accomplice.
Resources and links mentioned during this episode:
-Access the free LGBT+ Employment Resource highlighted in this episode here. You’ll see the link within the rainbow Happy LGBT+ pride month banner at the top of the page.
-Interested in services from Transform Belonging? Complete an interest form.
–Request form for the Transform Belonging mailing list.
–Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Racial Justice Toolkit for Civil Legal Aid Organizations.
–Sample Transgender Employment Policy.
–List of LGBT+ Topics that Transform Belonging Founder Lauren Lofton has presented, including travel banned states (per the California legislature).
-Travel banned states have enacted laws that void or repeal existing state or local protections against discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression.
-Authorized or requires discrimination against same-sex couples or their families or on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression; or
-Creates an exemption to anti-discrimination laws in order to permit discrimination against same-sex couples or their families or on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression.
–Sogorea Te’ Land Trust – Led by Urban Indigenous Women (Bay Area).
–A Guide to Indigenous Land Acknowledgment – Native Governance Center.
-Find the Indigenous people where you’re located here – from Native Land Digital.
-Learn about pronouns here.
-Learn about the Mx. honorific here.
-Laura’s first book – Values First. How Knowing Your Core Beliefs Can Get You the Life and Career You Want – is now available! Grab your copy today!
-Want to work with Laura? Check out her programs and coaching services.
Connect with Laura:
-Follow The Catch Group on LinkedIn.
-Follow the show on Instagram @thecatchgroup.
-Enjoying what you hear? Follow and leave a review HERE.
More about Lauren Lofton:
Lauren began their career as an attorney but found the structures and systems of the legal world limiting. They (singular) felt a deep connection and pull toward self-reflection & community building. They overcame tremendous obstacles as a non-binary/trans person in the workplace and now leverage their experience to support other LGBT+ people and others from historically marginalized backgrounds. Lauren is a certified mediator, restorative and transformative justice practitioner as well as organizational effectiveness coach, consultant, and facilitator. Their areas of expertise include professional identity formation, navigating imposter syndrome, decolonizing workspaces via thought work, and analysis via an intersectional and specifically anti-racist lens.
Lauren prioritizes coaching clients, including C-Suite executives, who are invested in the individual and collective liberation of all historically marginalized people and who understand that we are complex beings who experience both privilege and marginalization simultaneously. Lauren believes deeply that the personal is political and that we do not need nor should we be forced to fragment our identities to find belonging in our communities and at work. They are honored to have the opportunity to help you transform!