Gracious Space Creating A Safe Place for Authentic Dialogue Amidst Diversity PA Action Coalition Nursing Diversity council Rita K. Adeniran, DrNP, RN, CMAC, NEA, BC Director, Diversity and Inclusion University of Pennsylvania Health System Robert Wood Johnson Executive Nurse Fellow

Objectives Discuss “gracious space” and “confident humility” as effective tools for creating a safe place for authentic dialogue Describe the principles of gracious space and confident humility as enablers of excellence amidst diversity Describe

Creating a Safe Place … The principles of gracious space can help us create an environment where we trust enough to be vulnerable, have the courage to engage in authentic and respectful dialogue and utilize a sense of confident humility to further interpersonal and group understanding (Hughes, 2004; Center For Creative Leadership, 2013)

What is Gracious Space (GS)? A spirit and a setting where we ‘invite the stranger’ and we ‘embrace learning in public’. To invite the stranger means we need diverse perspectives to see the whole picture and gain clarity on the subject Learning in public means we will “truly listen to a new thought or a conflicting idea and are open to changing our minds.” (Hughes, 2004)

Why Gracious Space (GS)? Contemporary organizations are fast and complex Need for efficiency has justified and almost eradicated relationships among individuals and groups Presence of incessant escalation of violence in the political and entertainment media Existence of polarizing forces that dictate who is included and excluded - Let’s embrace Gracious Space- a willingness to infuse some gentleness into the rising cruelty of our world

GS principles empower individual to: Give opinions without fear of criticism Have respect for difference in spite of disagreements or conflicts Hold off judging based on different perspectives or culture Step back and reflect on assumptions, especially in conflicting situations Be curious, willing to learn and be influenced Slow down and truly listen.

GS is useful when there is a need to: Bring openness and creativity to work Make decisions with-out all the information Resolve conflicts, difficult issues and divergent viewpoints Utilize more data than can be truly processed to make decisions Work with diverse groups towards a common goal

The gracious space environment makes it possible for people to trust enough to be: Vulnerable Voice disagreement Curious Compassionate Inclusive Confronted by unprecedented change in our country’s healthcare, the need for graciousness could not be clearer or louder. Healthcare providers, staff, organizations and society must respond to the diverse viewpoints and/or polarity with graciousness (Rita K. Adeniran)

Confident Humility Confident Humility facilitates learning and “effective interaction ” Confident Humility is the self-awareness that we all have wisdom and other assets to contribute and always have more to learn from each other regardless of our differences - Center For Creative Leadership

Operationalizing Confident Humility Speak your truth Lean into discomfort and lean into each other Commit to Non-closure (Be Open) Embrace Paradox Seek intentionality, not perfection Build and maintain trust

May require the use of a complexity lens Seeing Clearly Amidst Diversity May require the use of a complexity lens “You don't see something until you have the right metaphor to let you perceive it”. Thomas Kuhn

The Gracious Space Philosophy “Let's commit to establishing a “safe space for advancing Diversity, Inclusion and Cultural Competency in PA” The Gracious Space Philosophy can support us to create and sustain a safe space to help us advance diversity, inclusivity and cultural competence in PA and beyond!!! Thank you! Some one to read to the UPHSCCC GS Philosophy!

Proposing A GS Philosophy for the PA Action Coalition Nursing Diversity Council