This month, I came on the Porch solo to talk about my experience as a member of the LGBTQIA+ community.


There were several reasons we held a special Porch session:

1. Representation. There were folks on the call from all different backgrounds. I work with many leaders who are working hard to understand someone different than them. I also know many folks who are closeted for fear of losing their job, their stability, and their community. I did this to create a safe place for those that have known me for years.
2. To talk about implicit bias and learn about how the brain categorizes information naturally. We really can't stop how our brain categorizes information but we can choose how we interpret it!
3. To give some direction for how business and non-profit leaders can be more supportive of their LGBTQIA+ teammates.

If you are looking for ways to support your LGBTQIA+ colleagues, here are some starting points:

1. Spend quality time with LGBTQIA+ folks and show up to events that are designed to celebrate them. It shows us that you’re safe and you care about our well-being.
2. Know that actions speak loudly. If you put a pride flag pin on your jacket, we notice it. You are sending us a clear signal that you get it.
3. Be mindful of the language used when talking about families, whether you are speaking to adults or children. Many folks do not live with their mom and dad in the same houses. This could be from divorce or death, or maybe there wasn't a mom and dad to begin with. Using language about "moms and dads" makes it hard for many people to feel like they belong.
4. Establish an employee resource group. There is power in numbers and representation matters! Find a champion in a senior leadership position to give the group a voice. You can find more information about that here.

Know that your words and actions matter. Teens are at risk and are watching the way we speak and act around LGBTQIA+ issues. There is plenty of research available but two important sites I'd like to highlight:

1. LGBTQ Youth are more likely to be bullied at school - HRC  
2. LGBTQ Youth are more likely to attempt suicide - The Trevor Project 

We had Alison Martin, Founder, and Managing Director of Engage Mentoring on The Porch. She joined us to talk about the serious need for mentorships in all sizes and types of organizations. Did you know that by 2030 boomers will have reached retirement age? That means companies need to start thinking about the transfer of knowledge of their senior leaders NOW to ensure future success. Mentoring isn’t a “nice to have” it’s a highly strategic "need to have", and Alison shared quite a few reasons why:

1.  Everyone needs to grow regardless of tenure and experience. The core of mentorship is the successful transfer of knowledge. That can occur at all levels and through all levels - it doesn’t have to be only top-down mentorship.
2. Mentorship training = Emotional intelligence training. When you teach people the specific skills of mentorship, the byproduct is transforming the culture. Not only are the mentees transformed but so are the mentors. This is because they are learning how to listen, how to support, and how to continue to develop their own communication skills as well.
3. Custom growth paths for each person. Every organization has different developmental needs - mentoring is the only program that meets people where they are and lets them take charge of their own developmental plan.
4. Inclusion and belonging. A formalized mentoring program ensures that diverse employees (ethnicity, gender, background, etc.) aren’t passed over simply because senior leaders tend to pick mentees that they have the most in common with. This is how we raise minority voices. 

Enjoy the recording below!

We had Kristin Fuller on The Porch to talk about taking a sabbatical. No, not a yearlong vacation in Europe (although, that could work for some!) For Kristin, it was a set-aside time full of rest, learning, and quieting the noise of life to recover parts of herself.
Here are some tips she gave us on creating a sabbatical for yourself:

• Financial: Start small by figuring out the actual monthly amount of income you need to live. Consider living below your means to give yourself some wiggle room and come up with a game plan so you can do this without considerable stress and anxiety.
• Focus: It can be easy to just want to take a long vacation and not strategically make purpose out of your extended time off. Instead, identify your needs for your sabbatical first by prioritizing the things you need to restore the parts of your lost self.
• Listen: Even in the self-care world, we can be distracted from what we actually need!

You’re the only one that knows your deepest desires and needs. Create the space to get rid of the noise so you can hear your inner voice again. It’s not that you don’t know what to do, it’s that you can’t hear yourself.

We had Lindsay Mitrosilis on The Porch to talk about LinkedIn as a strategy for recruiting and retaining top talent.

Big picture takeaways:

• HR Leaders, hear Lindsay out. Employees SHOULD be on LinkedIn and active. If you’re afraid they’ll get poached and leave, that’s a whole different issue.
• When it comes to recruiting the next generation of top talent, building your virtual presence as a leader is the most important thing you can do. People want to work for a person they like and know - showcasing your presence on LinkedIn does just that.
• When you feel tension around having an online presence, remember, you have full permission to set boundaries. Delete negative comments, ignore requests of people spamming you, and set limits for yourself.

June is PRIDE month and we are talking with Dr. Kristie Overstreet, a certified sex therapist, psychotherapist, author, speaker, and podcast host. She is also the creator of The Transgender Healthcare Dignity Model. She will be talking about how to create an environment of dignity and respect for all in healthcare and in the workplace.

​We had Megan Reilly on The Porch to talk about the journey to success, personal growth, and what it means to raise kids on their own path. There were several takeaways: 

• No one is going to escort you to your dreams. You have to be tenacious and ready to go.
• Reach out to people that you look up to, it helps you dream bigger and do more.
• When it comes to performing well - prepare all day so you can show up and be yourself. 
• Our journey is our superpower, it is your whole story that makes it uniquely you.