Challenging organisational practices
with Julianna Kayaga Sseremba
Kaya is an organisational psychologist working as a consultant. She is also a Founding Partner at Strategic Engagement Limited. Kaya is planning to do a PhD very soon, but she is already involved in the NEMRA researcher network.
About Kaya
She shares with us some of her experiences working with businesses where she is tackling organisational practices that may hinder the participation of women. Many practices in businesses and academia remain unchallenged. Our lack of courage in tackling them head on maintains the status quo that limits the progression of diversity in the workforce. Well Kaya, does not lack courage and she is tackling these issues through her consultancy work. Her perspective as an aspiring early career researcher can inspire us to reflect on all the layers of practices that we do not question in our organisations; these continue to limit the engagement of those who are different from us. It is not because a practice works for you that it will for others. Removing the blinkers of your own experiences, and considering what others may need is what I hope this conversation will inspire you to do.
Kaya can be found on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julianna-kayaga-sseremba-2b724877/
You can read her book: https://www.amazon.com/Becoming-Mrs-James-ENJOYING-SINGLEHOOD-ebook/dp/B08B45CGK9
Here is a video about the launch of her book: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6vPIrdISkww
If you want to know more about NEMRA: http://nemraafrica.org/
My meandering reflections and questioning based on my discussion with Kaya
Practices in businesses and academia often remain unchallenged. Our lack of courage in tackling them head on, maintains the status quo that limits the progression of diversity in the workforce.
We need to continue asking very simple questions to change professional work cultures
What could you do to remove your blinkers (we all have them!!) so that you start paying attention to the needs of others so that they can make their best contribution to the collective endeavour?
What are the practices in your department/ institution that hinder the effective contributions of people who are different from you?
What is the one practice in your professional context that you can address by challenging the status quo so that people around you start discussing about this practice/ this habit?
What would be a very easy change that could be made that would mean you are creating a professional/ teaching/ research environment that enable people to make their best contribution (even when their context/ personal situations & challenges) may make it more challenging for them to engage in the same way as you do?
You may feel frustrated to always point to the same issues. You may feel like a parrot repeating yourself over and over. Remember, it is all about habits...let's make it our habit to challenge the status quo of unhelpful practices in the research environment.
“you build trust by communicating and I build trust by accommodating”
