Dealing with Microaggression as an Employee

Dealing with Microaggression as an Employee

53mIntermediate2023-11-22

Authors

Toni Lowe

Toni Lowe

Career Consultant and Workforce Inclusion Strategist

Course details

In this course, Toni Lowe, a sought-after speaker and senior HR leader specializing in diversity, inclusion, equity, and belonging, teaches you how to identify and address everyday, subtle, intentional and unintentional actions or behaviors that perpetuate bias toward marginalized groups in the workplace. Toni defines microaggression and identifies the three distinct types of microaggressions: microassaults, microinsults, and microinvalidations. While the word "micro" means "small," each instance of microaggression has a big impact on the employee experience, physical health, and psychological well-being. Toni provides actionable steps you can take to create safe spaces in the workplace for coping and developing a support system. She discusses how to effectively address past behaviors directly with the offender or through a third party, then walks you through how to deal with microaggressions in real time. Toni concludes with her three-step framework for dealing with microaggression.

Skills covered

AllyshipInclusive LeadershipDiversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI)Well-Being and Self-CarePersonal DevelopmentProfessional DevelopmentLeadership and ManagementOne-Off

Concepts

Introduction

  • An experience as a marginalized employee
  • Learning break - Toni's experience of a workplace microaggression

Understanding Microaggression

  • Defining microaggression
  • Defining three types of microaggression
  • Recognizing that your experience is valid

Managing the Mental Toll of Microaggression

  • Identifying internalized microaggression
  • Seeing microaggressions as death by a thousand cuts
  • Creating psychological safety

Responding to Past Microaggressions

  • Addressing past microaggressions is your empowered choice
  • Addressing past microaggressions directly with the aggressor
  • Escalating past microaggressions to a trusted third party

How to Navigate and Respond to Microaggressions in Real-Time

  • Recognize microaggressions
  • Pause before reacting to microaggressions
  • Reflect on whether to speak up or remain silent
  • Consider what to do if you witness microaggressions against others

Conclusion

  • Start, stop, and continue - A framework for moving forward
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