An ally is someone who is not a member of an underrepresented group but who takes action to support that group to help make their workplace more diverse and inclusive for all.
For workplaces to become truly inclusive it is up to people who hold positions of privilege to be active allies and to take responsibility for making changes that will help others be successful.
Allies at all levels can take action with simple, everyday efforts that make a real difference and in this series, we highlight some things that you can do to be an ally and to support your colleagues from underrepresented groups.
#42: Give Shout Outs to your Colleagues
An important way to be an ally is to give credit where credit is due and give shout outs to the colleagues working with you. If your boss gives you credit when really it was someone else, or it was a joint or team effort, make sure everyone involved is acknowledged. However shout-outs don’t have to be about credit or just about a job well done – it can be a way to show respect to someone and acknowledge their support.
A great way to normalise this is to start your team meetings with a couple of shout outs or include shout outs in your team newsletter (or other communication channels that your team and organisation uses).
Read the full “How to be an Ally” series here.
