A Recipe For Transformation

Do you feel lonely being a DEI leader?Social change requires more and more people to step up and lead in order to create a critical mass. We need collective action. We need networks of support and skillsharing. We need coaching and mentorship, ongoing training and a network of peers. DEI champions should not have to feel like they are doing it alone.In episode 6 of A Recipe for Transformation, Chrysta Wilson speaks about creating a movement of outcomes focused leaders through bringing people on the DEI frontline together, highlighting: How learning communities create accelerated change through cross-pollination, building relationships and sharing resources Why learning is enhanced when we learn both from experts and peers The diverse skill set needed by DEI leaders and the challenge of getting comprehensive training for all these skillsThe magic of the collective flow state and how it creates impactWhat happens at the DEI Dinner Party and how it meets the complex needs of the DEI learning community by collapsing time “The reason why learning communities like the DEI Dinner Party are so powerful is that when we come together we activate what's called the “collective flow state”. When this collective flow state is activated, our awareness is heightened and our ability to move into action is accelerated. Our ability to make connections to concepts bigger than ourselves is now possible. Our mental and physical performance goes through the roof. AND, being in this flow state is associated with a sense of wellbeing and increased happiness.” Chrysta WilsonS2 E6, A Recipe for Transformation www.RecipeForTransformation.comConnect with Chrysta:https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrystawilson/https://www.instagram.com/wilsonandassociatesconsulting/

Do you have goals for DEI in your organization?It's time to stop thinking of DEI as values and instead think of them as outcomes and conditions that we want to create. To create effective change we need to know where exactly we're headed and what that looks like so that we can create actions that will lead to that outcome.In episode 5 of A Recipe for Transformation, Chrysta Wilson explores the key shift needed in DEI work at this time and offers us tools for implementing a more tangible DEI procedure, highlighting: Knowing the language is not enough; organizations need a united vision for what they want to create and tangible goals to be able to assess effectiveness The 3 foundational questions organizations need to answer when stepping into DEI workThe party analogy; moving from vision to outcomes and developing concrete goalsThe “best guess”; analyzing the gap between present reality and the DEI vision and creating targeted activities to create the desired changes The 3 questions that help create actions with tangible DEI outcomes "If you do DEI activities without a vision, without clear outcomes, you're missing out on a real transformation. If you don't have a clear goal or vision for DEI, how will you know what you're working towards? Dream up your future state. What would diversity look like? What needs to change? And what needs to be created?” Chrysta WilsonS2 E5, A Recipe for Transformation www.RecipeForTransformation.comConnect with Chrysta:https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrystawilson/https://www.instagram.com/wilsonandassociatesconsulting/

Is your DEI work leaving you feeling exhausted?Ongoing exhaustion related to work is termed “burnout” and is characterized as chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed. DEI work is a long-game and requires careful design, diverse resources and deep support to yield meaningful results. In episode 4 of A Recipe for Transformation, Chrysta Wilson speaks to the high risk of burnout for people leading DEI work, how to recognise it, and what needs to change to protect against it, highlighting:Folks engaged in leading DEI work are at at a higher risk of burnout due to the combined challenges of leading culture change, policy change, human behavior modification and systems changeLearning to recognise burnout; the emotional, somatic and behavioral symptoms to watch forThe 5 key things DEI leaders need in order to protect them from burnoutThe critical importance of organizations creating DEI metrics to maintain engagement in DEI effortsDEI leaders need more ongoing support, both personally and professionally to do the long-game work of DEI"Those of us who are leading DEI are even more susceptible to burnout. The reason is because there are unique challenges that come from leading this interdisciplinary type of work where we're having to look at culture change, policy change, human behavior modification and systems change.” Chrysta WilsonS2 E4, A Recipe for Transformation www.RecipeForTransformation.comConnect with Chrysta:https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrystawilson/https://www.instagram.com/wilsonandassociatesconsulting/

Do you listen to what your body tells you?Our stories are stored in our bodies. Healing requires us to feel, to move, to let our bodies know what they know and to honor their knowing. But so many of us are habitually disconnected from our bodies that it can feel like a major challenge to learn to “listen” more closely to our own bodies, let alone to bring this topic into the workplace and to DEI work.In episode 3 of A Recipe for Transformation, Chrysta Wilson goes into the topic of somatics or embodiment, and reveals why including the body is important in DEI work, highlighting in particular:We know key information in our bodies, often before we know it in our minds; why paying attention to the subtle cues we notice in the body is important.What embodiment / somatics means in the context of DEI work.See the issues, feel the issues; the importance of including healing work in the DEI process and what that means about expanding the nature of the work.Why learning to honor our own bodies is a crucial piece of doing DEI work4 great practices to build a stronger connection with your body "When we're more connected to our bodies it shows up in how we lead. We're able to create deeper DEI strategies that address the harms that DEI was aimed to address in the first place. When we forget that we are whole human beings with a body, how can we build a future for all human beings to thrive?” Chrysta WilsonS2 E3, A Recipe for Transformation www.RecipeForTransformation.comConnect with Chrysta:https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrystawilson/https://www.instagram.com/wilsonandassociatesconsulting/

Are you doing DEI work and feeling perpetually exhausted?Research shows that DEI leaders are experiencing record levels of burnout. We're passionate about it and it's hard work, so in a way that doesn't seem surprising. But what if it could be different? What if it HAS to be different for our DEI work to really be effective? In episode 2 of A Recipe for Transformation, Chrysta Wilson explains how disrupting grind culture is an essential part of DEI work, how that work begins in each of us, and how we can start to make those changes, highlighting: The need for reinforcing new, healthier behaviors to change our habits and our culture Why isolation is a key factor in DEI leadership burnout and how we can change thatThe “unsustainable YES” and the reality of staff capacity, mental and physical health, relationships and economic situationHow to shift towards a lifestyle that honors our bodies and minds and creates a sustainable, balanced life Why we cannot do effective DEI work within grind culture; the paradigm of our relationship to self has to change simultaneously "Here's what I have learned as a recovered workaholic: I've learned that rest practice is easier when you do it with a community that also honors those practices.” Chrysta WilsonS2 E2, A Recipe for Transformation www.RecipeForTransformation.comConnect with Chrysta:https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrystawilson/https://www.instagram.com/wilsonandassociatesconsulting/

Do you have ideas for DEI changes in your organization but don't feel empowered to take action on them yourself?The radical truth is that everyone can be a DEI Champion, no matter their job title. We just have to decide that we can be the changemakers that can lead DEI work we want to see happening. These times call for each of us to embrace our inner authority and be the change we want to see.In the season 2 debut of A Recipe for Transformation, Chrysta Wilson explores why wellbeing has to be part of DEI, why leadership exists at every level of an organization and how to claim your leadership authority, highlighting in particular: Why putting people at the center is a crucial DEI strategyThe need for a network for DEI leaders to share resources and best practicesWhy everyone has a leadership authority in an organization, even if they don't have the positional title What claiming DEI leadership at work can look like and the mindset challenges many of us need to deconstruct around leadership identity A guided reflection exercise to connect you to your inner authority "We don't have to wait for the leaders at the top to fix the thing that we know is broken. Like we can be the mirrors that can reflect the problems that we see. And we can be the light that guides the pathway forward."Chrysta WilsonS2 E1, A Recipe for Transformation www.RecipeForTransformation.comConnect with Chrysta:https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrystawilson/https://www.instagram.com/wilsonandassociatesconsulting/

Are you willing to go deep into your DEI inquiry?Taking a good hard look at anywhere that your organization might be perpetuating inequality is not always easy, but if you want to do the deep work of DEI, then that is what's needed - otherwise it's just a “diet” version.In this episode of A Recipe for Transformation, Chrysta goes back to the historical origins of DEI work, outlines some ways in which companies perpetuate inequality and invites a deeper look at company policy, highlighting in particular: DEI has its roots in the civil right movement and organizational efforts must be rooted in that quest for justice in order to be truly constructive Why “diet DEI” is ineffective and why we need to ask, “What do we need to make right?”If we don't intentionally design workplaces for neurodivergent or disabled people, we make it difficult for them to thrive, so DEI needs to include these people's needs The impact of nepotism on diversity and inclusion and why the willingness to critically examine our hiring policies is so crucialWhy we need to deeply examine how our company's policies might be perpetuating inequality and harm“What do we need to make right? And what do we need to make it right? How has our organization perpetuated oppression?”Chrysta WilsonS1 E6, A Recipe for Transformation www.RecipeForTransformation.comConnect with Chrysta:https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrystawilson/https://www.instagram.com/wilsonandassociatesconsulting/

Do you have a DEI plan that outlines what needs to change to create an irresistible organization?And does that plan include how you're going to track changes as you implement DEI steps? It's easy to throw DEI activities into the mix, but without a clear strategy, it's unlikely that they'll create any kind of sustainable change. In episode 5 of A Recipe for Transformation, Chrysta explores why we need to create a comprehensive DEI plan, ways of tracking impact and iterating as necessary as we harvest the results of our strategy, highlighting in particular: Why we need a comprehensive DEI plan that becomes our guidebook plan to make our organizations irresistible How to know if what you're doing is working and making sure you're not treading water despite including some DEI activities The importance of diversifying leadership and iterating when a DEI plan shows up further DEI gaps in the organization 3 key tips for creating a successful DEI plan The importance of researching why the DEI gaps in an organization are there in the first place and planning for a DEI robust future"After you do a DEI diagnostic to understand where you are - what's the current state of DEI affairs in your organization - then it's time to figure out what's the 1-2-3 of how you're going to get to where you want to go. And so your DEI plan becomes your guidebook. It tells the entire story of who will help you get to where you're going, what are the changes that you want to see, and what's the kind of supportive environment that you want to be on the other side of your plan."Chrysta WilsonS1 E5, A Recipe for Transformation "You can share your answer with me at www.recipefortransformation.com and join others in a conversation about activating your DEI Plans on LinkedIn on my related post https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrystawilson/www.RecipeForTransformation.comConnect with Chrysta:https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrystawilson/https://www.instagram.com/wilsonandassociatesconsulting/

Are your employees thriving? Is your company an irresistible organization to work for? The wellbeing and satisfaction of employees is directly linked to organizational success, and with the huge increase of employee resignations over the last few years DEI is clearly no longer a “nice-to-have” but a critical pillar of a successful business.In this episode of A Recipe for Transformation, Chrysta explains how the Great Resignation is rooted in a cultural shift of renegotiating working environments and quality of life, and the importance of shifting organizational culture from extractive to irresistible, highlighting:What the Great Resignation has to do with a lack of DEI and the advent of the Great Renegotiation Why DEI is not just a set of values or a strategy but underpins a cultural shift and why it needs to be woven into the DNA of our organizations The 5 ingredients of a toxic work culture and how to invert those characteristics into the 5 characteristics of an irresistible organizationShifting the narrative of people being mechanisms of production to being valued as human beings with the right to thrive Why employee thriving is connected to overall company success and the key question your company needs to answer in order to create a workplace people never want to leave “We're renegotiating what we're willing to tolerate, what we're willing to accept and not, and we're looking to be in spaces where we are valued, respected, and where the wholeness of who we are has the opportunity to thrive. We want to feel respect and dignity at work.” Chrysta WilsonS1 E4, A Recipe for Transformation www.RecipeForTransformation.comConnect with Chrysta:https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrystawilson/https://www.instagram.com/wilsonandassociatesconsulting/

Do you have a clear idea of what your organization's current DEI competency is? Are you tracking actions and results?You can't improve what you're not tracking, so getting a precise understanding of where your organization is at on its DEI journey is crucial if you want your DEI efforts to be effective. In episode 3 of A Recipe for Transformation, Chrysta illuminates why asking (and answering) questions is the first step in effective DEI work, and how understanding where your staff is currently at with DEI competence is a must in order to know what is needed going forward, and why using an effective DEI diagnostic is a non-negotiable tool in this work, highlighting: We can't improve what we can't measure; why you need to know where you want to go and where you are currently How a DEI diagnostic can help you figure out where your organization currently is in its DEI work, the best path forwards and what hazards and pitfalls to avoid How a DEI diagnostic can be a generative process rather than a stale and boring oneThe 3 questions to ask in order to begin building a DEI competent staffHow using a DEI diagnostic will help you be sure that the training you're investing in will actually get the results that you want“We want to make sure that we're doing the training and building the knowledge that's going to help our people in the way that we know that they need to be supported. It's kinda like when we get in a car and we turn the GPS on and we're going to head to our next destination, but we don't actually put in our starting address or the destination address; how would that GPS know how to get us to where we're going? That's what a DEI diagnostic will do.”Chrysta WilsonS1 E3, A Recipe for Transformation ***Go to www.DEIDiagnostic.com to get my free DEI Diagnostic***www.RecipeForTransformation.comConnect with Chrysta:https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrystawilson/https://www.instagram.com/wilsonandassociatesconsulting/

Are you ready to look deeply and honestly at the discrimination that is happening around you and what that brings up in you? It's easy for DEI work to stay at the generic “social-washing” level rather than holding the profoundly complex historical foundations and cultural conditions that perpetuate discrimination. Exploring our own intersectional identities, our lived experience in this culture and our inner relationship with discrimination can bring us to a much deeper level of engagement with DEI efforts. In this episode of A Recipe for Transformation Chrysta explores what we have to do to intentionally and meaningfully pursue diversity, equity and inclusion and how to assess whether DEI initiatives are really addressing the deep, historically rooted cultural narratives that create and maintain barriers to thriving for certain demographics, highlighting: Moving beyond well-intentioned training courses and language and into changing real-life situations where discrimination is happening DEI interventions need to become responsive and strategic rather than isolated incidents disengaged from real lifeThe importance of contextualizing movements for thriving in the historical and cultural hierarchies of who is valued and who is notThe fundamental questions that can help us move beyond the surface DEI activities into transformational DEI workExploring our intersectional identities and the ways in which they are advantaged and disadvantaged and how that can help us position ourselves in DEI efforts “We have to humanize our diversity, equity and inclusion work. And by that, I mean we have to put people back in the center of all these DEI investments. We have to stop thinking about DEI as a tactic or activity or some strategy that looks great on an Instagram post or a website banner because we're really talking about creating new conditions. A new way of treating one another. A new way of doing work.” Chrysta WilsonS1 E2, A Recipe for Transformation www.RecipeForTransformation.comConnect with Chrysta:https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrystawilson/https://www.instagram.com/wilsonandassociatesconsulting/

Are you rooted in your deep reason for wanting to do diversity equity and inclusion work?Are you personally invested in doing it and connected to the meaning it has for you as an individual, as well as for your organization? Or are you more connected to the social expectation to do this work and to use more culturally sensitive language?In episode 1 of A Recipe for Transformation, Chrysta explores what it takes to do truly impactful DEI work, how to connect to your personal and organizational why, and some of the societal narratives that might be interfering with a deeper connection to DEI work, highlighting in particular: The importance of having a strong vision and being able to communicate itWhat is your “Why”, why it's important to know it and what generic motivations might be playing a roleDEI work is personal, and it will bring up a lot, and assessing whether you're ready to embrace the journeyThe fundamental questions to ask if your organization is thinking about doing DEI workWhat being an “anti-racist” organization really means and the work on all levels that it implies “They took their DEI question and made it personal. They made a connection to who they are as people and why DEI matters to them as humans and also matters to their organization. The question for you is, why does it matter if your organization is doing DEI work? It matters to get specific. What is your vision and the mission of your organization? Start there.” Chrysta WilsonS1 E1, A Recipe for Transformation www.RecipeForTransformation.comConnect with Chrysta:https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrystawilson/https://www.instagram.com/wilsonandassociatesconsulting/

Black and LGBTQ workers have not wanted to go back to work after the pandemic. And there's a reason for this. Workers are refusing to sacrifice their humanity for a paycheck. When our workplaces honor our humanity and dignity, we all thrive and so do our organizations. We can change the statistic together. Welcome to a recipe for transformation, a podcast with Chrysta Wilson. Over the last 14 years, Chrysta served as a coach, strategist, facilitator, and storyteller to help those committed to changing the world do so more effectively. She has helped hundreds of organizations and government agencies find the special ingredients required to create their own unique recipes for promoting diversity, racial justice, equity, inclusion, and human dignity. Chrysta will be providing you with recipes to transform the way you do DEI in your workplace so that you can create supportive cultures of thriving instead of toxic ones. “I hope you'll grab a seat at the table and join me every other month as I drop a full season of recipes, and the occasional secret ingredient for diversity, equity, inclusion, and most importantly, dignity at work. Because leading transformations that stick requires more than knowing the words. It's about understanding why we're doing what we do, and putting people first”- Chrsyta Wilson, A Recipe for Transformation, Trailer.