Tiffaney McClendon
Recently, I pulled out of my garage on a Tuesday morning to find that one of my tires was completely flat. My first reaction was irritation, my second was action. I quickly reached into the back of my car and pulled out the portable, electric tire pump I keep there for just such an occasion. I reinflated the tire and was on my way in a matter of minutes. Since my commute to work is the better part of an hour, I wasn’t confident in trying to make the trip without finding out what had happened with the tire. So I headed immediately to the nearest oil change and tire repair location to have it checked, which was less than two miles away. I was quoted $40 to look at the tire. If there was a quick repair to be done, they’d include that in the price. Again, I was irritated. But I nodded, signed the slip, and handed over my keys. I went to their waiting room, enjoyed a free cup of coffee, and scrolled my phone. Thirty minutes later, the hole in my tire was patched and I was on my way into the office. The entire situation constituted a minor inconvenience in my morning without any major disruption of my work, funds, stress, or wellbeing. At that point, I stopped to acknowledge my privilege and assess my responsibility.
For many people, a flat tire on their way to work could and would be a major disruption in their life, finances, and job security. There are those who do not have the freedom—financial or otherwise—to roll with life’s punches, even ones that cost less than $50 dollars and an hour of their time. I recognized that I was inconvenienced and allowed myself to be annoyed by that. However, I also looked at how easily and quickly I was able to address the situation and move forward with my day.
Acknowledging privilege is only a first step, though. The next—and most important—is using that privilege in a positive way. After recognizing the freedom I had to navigate that situation, I realized that my responsibility as a leader is to ensure that there is equity for my team members if the same thing happens to them.
· Do they have what they need for life and its unexpected twists?
· Do they make a livable wage that lets them afford an emergency?
· Do I offer them the flexibility to prioritize their life without placing their job at risk?
· If the answer to any of these questions is “No,” what do I need to do to change that?
It’s fine for me to see my situation as inconvenient and annoying. It’s okay to allow myself to feel whatever emotions come with that. However, it’s extremely important to do more. I must recognize and acknowledge my privilege. Then, I need to use that privilege to help build equity for others.
While many managers may find themselves in a position to accomplish the first two actions, true leaders will follow through with the more important actions. They will take the steps that require self-reflection, maintaining perspective, and putting in the work of making things better for others.
Whether or not you are a manager, you can be a leader. Acknowledging privilege and leveraging it for the equity of others is one way to do so.