In this episode, Sacha’s guest is the Founder +Principal of Advancing Equity + Inclusion, Katrina Jones. They discuss disconnecting from toxic workplaces and the importance of self-care for DEI professionals.
I have been looking forward to this conversation with Katrina Jones for a while. It’s not that we never talk, but it would be an opportunity to grace others with the wisdom and insight she has on this topic. I specifically wanted to speak with her about detachment because it is something we both realized we needed to do once we decided to open our consulting businesses.
What is detachment?
Katrina cites Ala-teen as the source of her early understanding of the process of detachment. The Al-Anon and Alateen website states –
“Detachment is neither kind nor unkind. It does not imply judgment or condemnation of the person or situation from which we are detaching. It is simply a means that allows us to separate ourselves from the adverse effects that another person’s alcoholism can have upon our lives. Detachment helps families look at their situations realistically and objectively, thereby making intelligent decisions possible.”
That statement made me realize how practitioners not only become attached to DEI work from our own experiences, we know being in these roles also impacts the livelihoods of the marginalized employees we serve. There is an interconnectedness of this statement and what Katrina says early in the conversation, “doing the work while you are the work.” Detachment is not only necessary; it’s a critical step we must take so we don’t lose ourselves.
Starting the Process
Everyone’s process will be different but usually begins with making the conscious decision to disconnect. It took failing health – gastrointestinal issues, hair falling out – to see that I needed to make some changes. I had to identify what or who I needed to separate from and how that would manifest when I was at work.
Katrina speaks about being conscious of the feelings and judgments she was having and then being intentional about shifting away from it. She also discusses establishing boundaries such as stepping away from engaging in conversations that were toxic and not healthy for her.
Honoring the Journey
As we wrapped up the conversation, we shared that we are not all at the same place in the journey. It doesn’t mean that people are not held accountable for their mistakes or harm. We are always learning, and the industry is constantly evolving.
And that’s the beauty of this work.
Where can you find Katrina?
Website: http://www.equityinclusion.com
LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/katrinajones/
Twitter: @katrina_HRM
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