It’s up to all of us to create a more inclusive and diverse workplace. No matter where you are in your career journey, it’s essential that you help others grow, even as you are growing yourself, says ACLU Chief Equity Officer Amber Hikes. She lays out three ways we can help each other succeed — and empower and advance those who historically have been left behind.
The Way We Work is a TED original video series where leaders and thinkers offer practical wisdom and insight into how we can adapt and thrive amid changing workplace conventions. Visit for more! (Made possible with the support of Dropbox)
Visit to get our entire library of TED Talks, transcripts, translations, personalized talk recommendations and more.
The TED Talks channel features the best talks and performances from the TED Conference, where the world’s leading thinkers and doers give the talk of their lives in 18 minutes (or less). Look for talks on Technology, Entertainment and Design — plus science, business, global issues, the arts and more. You’re welcome to link to or embed these videos, forward them to others and share these ideas with people you know.
Become a TED Member:
Follow TED on Twitter:
Like TED on Facebook:
Subscribe to our channel:
TED’s videos may be used for non-commercial purposes under a Creative Commons License, Attribution–Non Commercial–No Derivatives (or the CC BY – NC – ND 4.0 International) and in accordance with our TED Talks Usage Policy (). For more information on using TED for commercial purposes (e.g. employee learning, in a film or online course), please submit a Media Request at
Transcriber: Leslie Gauthier
Reviewer:
When it comes to our careers,
the analogy we’ve been given is a ladder.
We’re climbing, climbing, climbing,
seeing just how high we can get.
But if we want to be
a part of organizations
that are diverse and inclusive
and truly reflect
the world that we live in,
that’s simply not enough.
While we climb, we also need to lift.
[The Way We Work]
(Music)
It’s no secret
that our companies and organizations
rarely have leadership teams
that represent the communities they serve.
That makes them
less effective in their work,
less innovative
and less profitable too.
We need more women steering the ship,
more people of color at the helm,
more folks with disabilities in charge,
more immigrants setting the tone,
more queer and trans folks
calling the shots.
So whether you’re a new hire
who’s a proud member
of one or more of these groups
or a longtime leader
who is none of the above,
each of us has a role to play
in making this happen.
Success is no longer
about our individual ambitions,
but about how we build
something greater together.
My mother introduced me to this concept
of lifting while you climb.
She was an absolute
powerhouse in her work,
and she spent so much of her time
working with younger Black women
to help advance them, too.
She would remind me
that the point of success
isn’t success for success’s sake.
She said that when you climb that ladder
and you get to the top,
you can take a moment to enjoy the view,
but you must be principally concerned
with using all of your might
to throw the ladder back down
for those who are coming behind you.
There’s no point in being the first
if we’re also the last.
So here are three ways that all of us,
whether you’re a first in your company
or a part of a deep legacy,
can embrace this spirit.
One:
question your surroundings.
One of the benefits,
and really the consequences of privilege,
is being around people
whose experiences mirror your own.
So when you’re at the table,
I want to ask you to really examine
who’s there with you,
and even more importantly,
who isn’t.
Do you see women,
people of color,
people with disabilities,
people who look like your customers,
clients, patients and community?
If not, I need you to ask why.
Calling it out matters.
If we don’t name it, we can’t change it.
Once you notice these disparities,
let’s do something about it.
For example,
we have a lot of data that women
get interrupted during presentations
more than men do.
So make counting this an activity
that you try in meetings
where there’s multiple people presenting.
Keep a tally:
how often do women
or nonbinary folks get interrupted,
and how often are men getting interrupted?
Add up your tally at the end of the week,
and if you notice discrepancies,
talk about them.
Talk about them in the moment.
Address it in the meeting if you can.
Practice saying, “Hey Fred,
I think you interrupted June.
June, can you repeat that?”
Or if that feels like too much,
you can just hand the mic back to June.
“Hey June, what were you saying?
I think I missed it.”
When you notice it happening, speak up.
It’s a chance to give yourself and others
the opportunity to show up better.
Two:
aim for sponsorship over mentorship.
Mentorship is making
a connection for someone,
giving them advice,
helping them know
when to ask for a promotion.
It’s great, but we can do even better.
Sponsorship is using your privilege,
your position, your power
to give opportunities to someone else
who’s traditionally been excluded.
It’s not just saying that someone
would excel in a make-or-break project,
but getting in there
and helping them make it
across the finish line.
It’s sending their finished
project to senior leaders
and letting them know
how strong you thought it was.
When the work gets picked up and used,
it’s reminding people where it came from
and who produced it.
If mentorship happens behind the scenes,
sponsorship happens
right there in the front:
not just before the meeting
but in the meeting,
not just on the private thread
but in that big group email,
because the platitudes,
the kind of half stepping —
it’s not cutting it.
Finally, pass on the chance for glory.
Think about how you can
create opportunities
for the people in your organization
who might not get them as often.
The next time you’re asked to do a panel,
consider offering your seat to someone
who also has bold and imaginative ideas
but might be overlooked
because of their race or gender
or disability,
and then help that person prepare.
Take someone who wouldn’t normally
have access to the meeting
and bring them in with you,
not to observe,
but to present with you.
If you’ve been running
an ideation session for a while,
pass it on to someone new.
Keep the calendar invite intact,
talk them through what’s worked
in the past and what hasn’t
so that they can excel too.
Pass on your institutional knowledge.
It’s on the leadership of your company
or your organization
to set goals and metrics
for hiring equitably
and bringing in more diverse employees,
but when it comes to inclusion
and celebrating others,
you can help with that.
You can go to someone
who doesn’t share your identities
to partner on a project.
You can amplify the work of a colleague
who might be the only person
like them on the team.
You may think about
where you first started in this work
and feel so proud of what you’ve learned
and how brave you’ve been as you climbed.
I need you to hold that feeling.
Please hold that feeling,
but also chase that feeling,
because what good
is our power and success,
what use is it making it to the top
if all it affords us is a bird’s-eye view
of everyone we’ve left behind?
If your journey in inclusion feels easy,
you have packed too light.
So feel proud,
feel uplifted,
feel accomplished
in your commitment to equity,
but also feel like
you have more work to do
because lifting —
it’s difficult.
And your help —
it’s essential.
Science & Technology5 years ago
CNET5 years ago
People & Blogs3 years ago
Wired6 years ago
Wired6 years ago
Wired6 years ago
Wired6 years ago
CNET5 years ago
TED
October 4, 2021 at 3:55 pm
To watch more episodes from The Way We Work, a TED series, click here:
Text Dutchcoinltd on T e l e g r a m
October 5, 2021 at 11:51 pm
Text 👆 I recommend you sir for your best mentorship and proper assistance. In crypto currency now I can pay my bills and other with out thinking twice
Pinned by 99—bitcoins
October 5, 2021 at 11:51 pm
Text 👆 I recommend you sir for your best mentorship and proper assistance. In crypto currency now I can pay my bills and other with out thinking twice
• 羲天 •Random Adventurer X
October 4, 2021 at 4:27 pm
I look forward to IRON teaching everyone how to naturally gain x chromosomes.
Also I would love to have u.v. protection, how do we become black people naturally?
Think Econ
October 4, 2021 at 4:37 pm
Great video; it definitely addresses the fact that there’s more to productivity and success than attaining your own personal goals!
Antonio Garcia
October 4, 2021 at 4:46 pm
Okay, this is a lot to unpack.
Power/Responsibility/Qualification/Mental readiness/Luck.
This is what in my view is required to move up.
1. Mentality: if you are not ready to to learn, absorb or just be presently open minded. Fail.
2. Power: power is more like assertiveness. Being able to take responsibility and give it. If an idea is presented, using an open mind and run with it if it’s good.
3. Responsibility: being responsible as an employee goes far when you gain a highet position. If you were unresponsible before, you might also be when moving up. When you move up, you become more responsible for others as well as yourself.
4. Qualified: this is basically experience. We all need to crawl before walking. We all need to speak well with others if we are going to command others. Command can be subtle, harshly, kindly, or without tone. Leaders “do” and have “doers” with them.
5. Luck: is more or less timing. If you have all the above things. Luck brings you that certain push. Perhaps you dressed up vs not. Perhaps you share similar stories like military or previous residence and the new boss also shares these. Simple timing.
‐—‐-‐———————————————
The notion that I have to hire a female/LGBT/old/race/and so on because I don’t have one is not a good reason for me.
I hire anyone that is qualified for the job “period”. They have 90days to prove to me they are worthy of staying. That is it.
Mac Clift
October 4, 2021 at 4:52 pm
Me! Me! Mine! You share yours with me, but I don’t have to share what’s mine with you. Kindergarten mentality!
Δ.Μ
October 4, 2021 at 6:26 pm
Stop acting like a child Mac, it’s pathetic
The Mean Arena
October 4, 2021 at 5:03 pm
I’m getting a Tony Robbins vibe.
Jorge Rodriguez
October 4, 2021 at 5:20 pm
What an excellent talk. The idea isn’t new but in this country it is very foreign. Racism and bigotry stop the process of inclusion and we live in a very racist country.
Snowflake Melter
October 4, 2021 at 10:07 pm
No you don’t snowflake.
Keith Lee
October 4, 2021 at 5:22 pm
We *NEED* people who can do the job to be given the job and be allowed to do it – whether they are a woman, of race, with disability or have gender orientations that may be considered ‘different’ is irrelevant. What I’m saying is that we don’t *NEED* people who fit these description we just need people who can do the job well.
Δ.Μ
October 4, 2021 at 6:25 pm
I don’t understand Keith. Do we or do we not need women, other races, people with disabilities, and LGBT in the workplace?
Caira Lee
October 4, 2021 at 5:55 pm
💯
hidden
October 4, 2021 at 6:04 pm
That’s just a strawberry talk😁 there’s nothing like lift others if you really want to be successful it’s just a race
Ted-talk quality nowadays 👎👎👎
Δ.Μ
October 4, 2021 at 6:15 pm
Great speech! 👏👏👏
Erez.
October 4, 2021 at 6:57 pm
This is beautiful thank you ❤️🙏🏽🌿
John Adams
October 4, 2021 at 7:02 pm
No. We don’t need more people of any particular group or minority at the top… What we need is the best people… And if the majority are women, great; majority men, fine; majority disabled, no worries…. The best person for the job. Simple. Get rid of internal politics and getting to the top because of who you know not what you know…. That’s what needs the focus.
Δ.Μ
October 4, 2021 at 7:57 pm
So you don’t want minorities in the workplace.
You are extremely racist, but hey, at least you are honest. I respect that at least.
Hamduddin Masrur
October 4, 2021 at 7:22 pm
Simon DeBeauvoir already have said it the best. Along with that, read the books, attend schools, help your community grow and eat better.
C Neiner
October 4, 2021 at 7:29 pm
This channel is nothing but a liberal cry for attention and division of races, ethnicities, and sexuality. As far as i am concerned I do not see a “need’ for inclusiveness anymore. People should be judged on their character as the Great Martin Luther King said, but the left wing lunatics will not let that happen. They want special treatment for people based on ethnicity and that’s not American. This translates into an minority vote and that’s all they care about. Not the people, buying the votes and specifically buying votes with taxpayer money and taxpayer funded programs and mandates. Prove yourself and get rewarded. Showing up in a particular color of skin is not proving anything. I unsubscribe.
Ricardo Charriez
October 4, 2021 at 7:54 pm
I love this person, this video, this message. I love it all!!!
The Mean Arena
October 5, 2021 at 1:25 am
You love that she encourages only helping black people? OK! You clearly have never seen this woman speak anywhere else. One time she said all businesses should be ran by black trans women.
Brett
October 4, 2021 at 7:55 pm
What she proposes is what has wrecked this country.
Clinton Galton
October 4, 2021 at 7:56 pm
She’s hot
Lisa Love Ministry
October 4, 2021 at 8:00 pm
Love lift us up where we belong.😁 Lift others up don’t tear down. 💗
Proverbs 3:5-6 🕊
Bryan Nowak
October 4, 2021 at 8:03 pm
“What use is it making it to the top if all it affords us is a bird’s eye view of everyone we’ve left behind”
Brills
Ancin47
October 4, 2021 at 9:26 pm
The answer is simple…. Control… that’s why the rooms aren’t diverse…. I honestly don’t know how we fix it.
Snowflake Melter
October 4, 2021 at 10:09 pm
The reason is because certain races & cultures have a strong work ethic.
Randall Wilson
October 4, 2021 at 9:48 pm
Oh, shut up with this happy face of capitalism garbage. There is no such thing as friendly capitalism any more than there is friendly fascism.
RaeRae
October 4, 2021 at 9:52 pm
That talk gave me chills. The entire population of the world needs to watch it and put it into action. That is the world i want to live in.
“We rise by lifting others” Robert Ingersoll
Professor Tanya Speaks
October 5, 2021 at 12:49 am
Great message. Excellent speaking skills. 👏🏼
False Reality
October 5, 2021 at 1:02 am
I love this so much
Rudy Gunawan
October 5, 2021 at 3:18 am
Diversities are things can’t be avoided, but encouraging the unsupportive people to drag us backdown it’s not something that we want to happen. True that work environment can be vicious, but if you want to success and the company to growth, you should be brave to cut the death branches, cleaning it from parasitic plants, so the tree can grow bigger.
Dean Riley
October 5, 2021 at 3:48 am
It should not come down to promoting people of colour or lgtb, but who is most suitable for the promotion. The big problem is promotions within because a manager knows or wants a person in the role.
Dean Riley
October 5, 2021 at 6:40 am
@Δ.Μ it should never be a question of whether they are a person of colour or lgtb. The only question should be who is best suited to the role. Genders colour and sexuality should not mean you do or do not get a promotion.
Dean Riley
October 5, 2021 at 7:20 am
What I’m saying is a person is a person and all should be equal.
Dean Riley
October 5, 2021 at 7:30 am
@Δ.Μ I know and that’s what I’m saying, why complain to someone who agrees?
Jyothsna Donepudi
October 5, 2021 at 3:55 am
👍❤️
whatapp
October 5, 2021 at 1:24 pm
👉+➀➈➁➈➃➇⓪➂⓪➂➁.
Mich Car
October 5, 2021 at 3:58 am
Love this… Climb-then-Lift
R33TR0W (PH03N1X)
October 5, 2021 at 4:11 am
KISSED By My Feathers!
Elusive Sam
October 5, 2021 at 7:49 am
My comment may enrage you, but I will keep it clear: I have nothing against diverse people at the job if they do that job good and don’t hamper others from doing their job. If a black or transgender person does the job better I’ll prefer them. If a black or transgender person does the job worse, I’ll prefer someone else.
> 0:07 part of organisation that truly reflect the world we live in
Nothing will truly reflect the world we live in. The distorted map is not a territory. Every attempt is very far from it actually as people are always biased. The closest ones are independent cross-validated scientific researches, not some organisations with CEOs in charge that optimize for investors’ money.
> 0:14 While we climb we also need to lift
The problem is that there is a ladder in the first place, there’s not enough place for everyone at the top. So you have a choice what to prioritize: optimize for honest professional work or optimize for climbing that ladder. Guess who climbs in the end?
> 1:38 Question your surroundings
And that what your world view opponents do, thus excluding you. Instead of finding who’s not with you and counting how often minorities get interrupted, your meetings should have clear procedures that allow everyone to speak and be heard and clear rules how to make discussions and what power those discussions have (if any). Those rules allow everyone to focus on their job and not in-company politics games.
> 3:09 “Sponsorship” is using your position, your privilege, your power to give opportunities to give opportunity to someone else who’s traditionally been excluded.
So, basically, corruption. Instead of clear, transparent and working procedures of deciding who gets promoted independently of their nation, world views, gender, color or disabilities, you propose to promote people that have similar views to you.
> 3:50 Pass on the chance for glory
Same as above. Also, what’s the point of promoting someone’s genius idea if:
1) The company doesn’t have a clear procedure for proposing, discussing and empowering these ideas
2) The company doesn’t reward it enough. At best the management will throw several kilobucks and the owners will make millions from these ideas. Employees would better care about the company if they have shares of it. Or it’s not worth it and better keep your ideas to build your own business one day.
HoBoJoHn
October 5, 2021 at 8:53 am
Don’t listen to this nonsense. If you require some success. Think about the Ape within and don’t abuse it by telling it lies.
SM Santos
October 5, 2021 at 1:21 pm
What a beautiful message through a beautiful heart! FAN already! For more Ted translators! This message needs to be translated into Portuguese! Brazil needs this message!
phyliciajoykloes
October 5, 2021 at 2:06 pm
Yes!!! 👏🏽 Building something together. Lovely talk. Thank you for sharing this.
Chrissy Cox
October 5, 2021 at 3:02 pm
She’s so charismatic and charming! Love her advice and her presence!
Reena Madian
October 5, 2021 at 3:26 pm
With you in this totally. Wonderful talk
Fazakas Laszlo
October 5, 2021 at 4:35 pm
I think I didnt got it. So you say that I should promote based on race, gender and sexual orientation? Or merits? What if I would continue to carry on not interested in gender, race or sexual orientation? Offer everyone a space at the table?
David Beaumont
October 5, 2021 at 5:21 pm
Thank you for sharing this!
KC
October 5, 2021 at 5:26 pm
This was perfect!
Rokvet
October 5, 2021 at 6:00 pm
I’m happy for this video but it’s sad that we even needed this in the 1st place.
Ashlee Espinosa
October 5, 2021 at 7:32 pm
This talk was so compact and powerful. Thank you Amber for offering this 3 action steps. That last quote though!!! 👏
edi
October 5, 2021 at 7:56 pm
No offense, but I hear a little too much _diversity_ in this talk. I have no problem with the term itself and I am a firm believer that good, competent, and hard-working people should be rewarded by helping them climb the ladder no matter of their background. However, just hiring people of a certain background to claim that you promote diversity is likely to achieve the opposite. Employees get fed up, when not the most competent/suitable person gets hired or even promoted. In addition, to keep the company under its potential, this is likely to cause a rift and destroy trust in the boss. It can also be bad for the reputation. The best example of recent times was the g-pandering of many companies. They made their logos for a short time into rainbow-thingies that were often hard to read and as soon as you changed the language or region setting, the rainbow was gone… Moreover, what exactly did they do to help the LGBTQ-community? That logo does nothing, even more so when it’s just waving a flag for a short time…
Lastly, there’s also a dark side to what she advocated, which has existed for centuries: cronyism.
I’ve seen a Romanian boss hiring as many Romanians and Polish people as she could, causing a divide in the workgroup between the three prevalent languages. To make things worse, her favoritism poured oil into the fire. Others did even worse jobs in helping others to climb the ladder in that they installed incompetent, but loyal supporters into key positions corrupting the entire place and causing a gradual and slow decline.
uncooked ham
October 5, 2021 at 8:01 pm
My husbands boyfriends name is Ted.
Text Dutchcoinltd on T e l e g r a m
October 5, 2021 at 11:48 pm
I REALLY 👆APPRECIATE YOUR
HELP YOU SURPRISE ME AND MY FAMILY TO grow up financially
Mercedes Peralta
October 5, 2021 at 9:50 pm
Most excellent message, Amber Hikes!!! Thank you!!!!
A.T. Cunningham
October 5, 2021 at 10:18 pm
Okay let’s be clear on one thing. People like your describing have nothing to do with the qualifications for the job. We need people qualified and educated. Notice the period. No matter what job.
Text Dutchcoinltd on T e l e g r a m
October 5, 2021 at 11:44 pm
I received 4.2btc i wish I can send a screen shot here I recommend him for being a sincere broker with many years of experience
Gone Bon Bon / Food and Travel
October 5, 2021 at 11:45 pm
Sorry, I can’t understand anything?
Text Dutchcoinltd on T e l e g r a m
October 5, 2021 at 11:48 pm
This dud… 👆 Really thought me how to live comfortable life without no stress thanks so much sir 🙏🙌♥️
SWEETGA BROWNIN
October 6, 2021 at 4:22 am
Bravo, I’m definitely going to pass this on…thank you!
Contact 👉 Maskoffweb,com👈
October 6, 2021 at 5:19 am
Hello everyone ☝️ is trustworthy and ethical thanks to them I made $10,000 so far
Phung Phan
October 6, 2021 at 5:24 am
Yes, we should not base positions on how people look outwardly but by their individual merits alone…
Abigail Evans
October 6, 2021 at 10:30 am
希望有个中英字幕😂
Whatspp
October 11, 2021 at 2:29 pm
👉+➀➈➁➈➃➇⓪➂⓪➂➁
Ashley McC McCullough
October 6, 2021 at 3:27 pm
AMBER!!!!!!!!! YES, MA’AM!!!!!!! Dude, I love you so hard. Thank you, thank you, thank you for the critical and world changing work that you are doing!!!!! Louder for the people in back. All the hearts.
Trevor Jennings
October 9, 2021 at 12:38 pm
Hello Ashley👋…
T.O. Lupe
October 6, 2021 at 3:57 pm
I have let my controlling parents run my whole life! Telling me what I can and can’t do with my life! I have let them belittle me in front of family! I’ve had to put my wants, needs, goals and dreams aside for them! I’m a 40 year old man who has never left his childhood home! I’m tired of watching life pass me by day after day, month after month, and year after year! I need a lot of HELP!!
Luthfiah Annisa
October 6, 2021 at 6:16 pm
the way she talks so powerfull🤩
ribidimi
October 6, 2021 at 8:27 pm
♡
ribidimi
October 6, 2021 at 8:30 pm
just WOW
StackMoSayless -
October 6, 2021 at 11:59 pm
Umm how about the most qualified person get the position and not because an agenda.
Karen González
October 7, 2021 at 9:33 am
“There’s no point in being the first if we’re also the last” BRILLIANT
Jalil Khan
October 7, 2021 at 12:41 pm
There is no point in being first, if you are also the Last. That’s deep.
Mauricio Garcia-Montes
October 7, 2021 at 6:22 pm
WTF TED…
Whatspp
October 11, 2021 at 2:27 pm
➕➀➈➁➈➃➇⓪➂⓪➂➁…🤝Thanks for watching Send a direct message right away ❤
iaMachs
October 7, 2021 at 7:38 pm
This is one of the most beautiful videos I saw on this topic, well thought, sound advice, with examples of what you can, love it, thanks a lot TED for sharing this, all the best, and stay strong!
Angel Hernandez
October 7, 2021 at 9:25 pm
Nicce video aye
Whatspp
October 11, 2021 at 2:26 pm
➕➀➈➁➈➃➇⓪➂⓪➂➁…🤝Thanks for watching Send a direct message right away ❤..
Romskie
October 8, 2021 at 9:08 am
“what use is making it to the top, if all it affords us is a bird’s eye-view of everyone we’ve left behind?”
im really grateful i watched this before our academic group activity. i wanted to get all the credit by doing the group’s work by myself, but i held back. it made me realize what the point of an excellent mark is, if my teammate finds it difficult to understand.
lifting other people really does feel uplifting.
prettyeyes39
October 8, 2021 at 11:21 am
Excellent advice!
Whatspp
October 11, 2021 at 2:26 pm
➕➀➈➁➈➃➇⓪➂⓪➂➁…🤝Thanks for watching Send a direct message right away ❤.
Mousumi Pal
October 8, 2021 at 1:53 pm
Loved her assertiveness and demeanour. Its magnetic
Whatspp
October 11, 2021 at 2:26 pm
➕➀➈➁➈➃➇⓪➂⓪➂➁…🤝Thanks for watching Send a direct message right away ❤💕..
Ian Patrick
October 8, 2021 at 7:19 pm
“There’s no point in being first if you’re also the last “ Love it!
DAJ_Leo
October 8, 2021 at 9:51 pm
🧢🧢🧢
The Big Dawg
October 8, 2021 at 10:58 pm
No.
MOA THEJHE
October 9, 2021 at 1:28 pm
How beautiful she is speaking up those beautiful things that make all the beauty of our existence
LIfe Story Wansmg
October 11, 2021 at 7:06 am
wow amazing
Whatspp
October 11, 2021 at 2:24 pm
➕➀➈➁➈➃➇⓪➂⓪➂➁…🤝Thanks for watching Send a direct message right away ❤💕.
christina s.
October 11, 2021 at 8:48 pm
We are all members of the community quit talking about needing more of certain groups. Ugh Ted is so political now.
Random Life Tips
October 12, 2021 at 3:10 am
Thanks for the video!