Newsletter

The purpose of the Women Who Rock! (WWR!) podcast is to feature women ‘rock stars’ in business, community, and life who are also excited to share tips for success, life lessons, and hacks that may make the journey simpler for others. The information and lessons shared by our guests will uplift and inspire each of us to let our ‘inner rock star’ shine brightly!

On this episode of WWR!, we spend time with Joni D. Goodman.  Joni’s superpower is bringing out the greatness in others.  She is a game-changing executive coach.  Joni was selected and trained by Dr. Brene’ Brown as one of the first Certified Dare to Lead™ facilitators in the world! 

In this podcast, Joni shares her thoughts about leadership, actions to become a more effective leader, and reflections on her life’s journey that led her to this work.  You will be inspired to embrace your innate strengths and opportunities and flex your leadership muscle in a way that allows you to be most effective in all facets of your life.   

Enjoy this episode of WWR!

A New DEI Demographic?

We have just experienced what was perhaps the most contentious presidential election of our lifetime.  Now more than ever, many of our employees are consumed by politics, and discussions on some very devise topics may be extending well beyond the proverbial water cooler.  The long-standing guidance that the workplace is not the proper location for politics still rings true.  However, current-day reality, may be different, forcing HR departments and business leaders to tap into resources on how to guide tough conversations in this space of difference.  Check out these articles about political diversity and some possible considerations for business leaders.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/ilanaredstone/2020/08/05/four-things-employers-should-do-to-accommodate-political-diversity-in-the-workplace/?sh=1dd17dc427c6

https://www.harnnet.org/index.php/articles-corner/english-articles/item/2055-political-diversity-concept-of-representation-or-cultural-submission

Advancing Racial Justice

The events of 2020 transformed the conversation around diversity, equality, and inclusion (DEI) to include discussions on racial justice. Increasing organizational knowledge on racial justice brings an added dimension to implicit bias and microaggressions training and Employee Resource Group offerings.  EPIC now offers Advancing Racial Justicetraining that informs leaders about the shifting landscape of racial equity in our society and how these dynamics impact businesses.  This training also encompasses resources and tools that build buy-in for the importance of addressing racism in an organization’s policies and practices.  Contact EPIC for a consultation.

The events of 2020 have had an impact on all businesses.  Now is the time for HR leaders to assess changes that need to be made to policy handbooks to accurately reflect updates and revised practices. EPIC consultants provide HR expertise in creating and updating policy handbooks and have effective communication and rollout methods.

Epic Collaborative Advisors is a boutique consulting firm with nationwide capabilities, providing expert communications, workforce development and training, and strategic planning solutions to both public and private sector entities, from small to medium-sized enterprises.

Our mission is to provide our clients with resources that enable the transformation of their people and organizations. Our team of professionals is dedicated to strengthening communities and institutions by tapping into our wide-ranging experience and fresh perspectives.

The purpose of the Women Who Rock! (WWR!) podcast is to feature women who are ‘rock stars’ in business, community, and life who are also excited to share tips for success, life lessons, and hacks that may make the journey simpler for others.  The information and lessons shared by our guests will uplift and inspire each of us to let our ‘inner rock star’ shine brightly!

On this episode of WWR! we spent time with Alicia Lee, the Director of Improving Maternal Health (IMH) Houston.

The Improving Maternal Health initiative addresses the various and complex drivers of maternal mortality and other adverse outcomes through a comprehensive, long-term strategy. The initiative is funded with support from the Houston Endowment, Episcopal Health Foundation, Cullen Trust for Health Care to name a few, and includes more than 100 area maternal medical leaders and community leaders. Their committment to increasing maternal survival and improving women’s pre- and postpartum wellness by shifting healthcare norms and societal attitudes is pivotal to the IMH mission.

Harris County (Houston, TX) has one of the highest rates of maternal morbidity among metropolitan areas in the United States. Between 2008 and 2015, Harris County’s incidence of maternal morbidity increased 53 percent, compared with a 15 percent increase for Texas overall.  In her role, Alicia directs a collaboration of efforts focused on lowering the rates of maternal morbidity and creating better outcomes for maternal healthcare.

One of the most important areas of focus in Alicia’s work is increasing awareness about this health crisis throughout countless communities.  By listening to this podcast and sharing it with someone in your network, you are now a part of the solution for an important issue impacting so many women.

Enjoy this episode of WWR! and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.

Timely employee performance feedback is a critical component of engagement, especially during COVID-19.  HR leaders should clarify the company’s performance feedback endgame.  Will feedback be linked to promotions and salary increases?  Will it drive decisions related to headcount reductions?  Is the input solely to assess performance during an abnormal year?  Establishing the goals for this feedback season and communicating that information to your employees will align your organization with this performance cycle’s objectives.  EPIC provides consultative services related to appropriate performance measures during this time of COVID-19. For more information, check out this EPIC webinar, Effective Employee Performance Metrics & Measurements.

In addition to formal training on unconscious bias, incorporate the topic in regularly scheduled team meetings and ‘stand ups.’  Doing so will make heighten awareness of the topic among your employees, and empowering teams to implement solutions for situations of bias that may appear.  Consider asking the following questions (one per meeting) during the next call.

· ·         Which parts of your cultural identity are important to you?

· ·         What is bias?  What is unconscious bias?  Discuss the difference.

· ·         What examples of bias are you seeing as we experience COVID 19?

· ·         How do you define Inclusive Leadership?

· ·         What examples of Inclusive Leadership have you seen from our organization during COVID 19?