Top tips for being an ally

With more than 15 years of experience in human resources management and talent management, Niki Murphy – Canadian Talent Management and D&I Leader - is known for her ability to empower teams and inspire change. Passionate, driven, and authentic, she is an ally to the LGBTQ+ community who drives efforts across the country to help ABB become an even more safe and fulfilling place to work for all employees.

Educate Yourself: Take the time to learn about LGBTQ+ issues, terminology, history, and the challenges the community faces. Being curious and open-minded helps you become a more informed and supportive ally. The Global Pride site has amazing courses, resources, tips and tricks and access to Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) around the world.

Reflect and Adjust: Continuously reflect on your behavior and beliefs, and be open to feedback. Being an ally is an ongoing process that requires curiosity, self-awareness, and a willingness to learn and grow.

Listen and Be Respectful: Listen to LGBTQ+ individuals' experiences with empathy and respect their identities. Use their preferred names and pronouns, and avoid making assumptions about anyone’s sexual orientation or gender identity. Show that you care by creating a safe and supportive environment.

Show Up: Attend LGBTQ+ events to show your support. Visibility matters, and your presence can help demonstrate that the LGBTQ+ community has allies who care deeply about their rights and well-being. Attend an ERG event, listen and learn. If you are a people leader, provide time for your team to join LGBTQ+ events.

Be Inclusive: Ensure that your actions and language are inclusive. This can mean using gender-neutral language, recognizing and celebrating LGBTQ+ events and milestones, and creating inclusive environments in social and professional settings. Collaborate with others to foster inclusivity. The easiest way to demonstrate allyship is to include your pronouns in your email signature or LinkedIn profile.

Celebrate Diversity: Embrace and celebrate the diversity within the LGBTQ+ community. Recognize that there are many different identities and experiences, and all deserve respect and recognition. Work together to celebrate and support this diversity.

Speak Up Against Discrimination: Challenge homophobic, transphobic, or discriminatory remarks and behaviors when you encounter them. It takes courage to speak up, but doing so is crucial in advocating for justice and equality.

Support LGBTQ+ Rights: Advocate for policies and laws that protect LGBTQ+ rights. This can include supporting anti-discrimination policies, marriage equality benefits, and protections or benefits for transgender individuals. You’d be surprised which locked doors can rapidly be unlocked by simply pushing and asking questions.

Use Your Privilege: Use your privilege to amplify the voices of LGBTQ+ individuals. Advocate for their needs and perspectives in spaces where they may not be present or heard. It takes courage to leverage your privilege for the benefit of others.

Be intentional: Be unapologetic about your allyship.