How Are You Navigating Tough Conversations?

What do you do when your non-trans employees struggle to respect the TGX+ folks in your organization?

When TGX+ folks come out or transition in the workplace, it is a moment to celebrate and appreciate their journey of living authentically.

Unfortunately, some employees struggle to see this for the joyous occasion that it is. They become worried, threatened, and resistant to respecting their TGX+ colleagues. They say things like:

“I’m not going to share a restroom with…”

“I don’t understand this ‘they/them’ thing. I’ll just keep my distance so I don’t offend anyone…”

“This goes against my religious beliefs, I’m not going to adjust…”

As an HR, DEI, or ERG leader, it can be really challenging to receive these types of comments. How do you respond to these types of difficult scenarios?

I love referencing LGBTQ+ inclusion specialist Susie Silver’s 5 steps for navigating courageous conversations about DEI. In step 5, she discusses the importance of having specific responses prepared for when these scenarios arise:

“Preparing for these claims allows you to keep a tough conversation going when it would otherwise hit a roadblock.”

As an organization leader, what types of responses do you have prepared for these scenarios? Do you feel confident in navigating these tough conversations?

Regardless of where you are on this journey, our monthly virtual TGX+ Inclusion Roundtable is the perfect opportunity for you to get ahead and address the scenarios that are bound to come up (if they haven’t been coming up already!).

Join us with your questions, quandaries, and real-world scenarios as we explore how to navigate these tough conversations together.