![Students working in study room](/sites/default/files/styles/max_1300x1300/public/images/2017/sites/about/inclusion/echo/engaged.jpg?itok=Mh9eB9IK)
Engaged, we embrace conversation, rather than flee, dominate, or shut it down.
The UCLA Anderson community attracts people from a range of diverse backgrounds, identities and points of view. Seeking shared success, we commit to making inclusion more than a value; we make it a practice. At times, this comes easy. Other times, communicating with those from different backgrounds can be rightly challenging, and experiencing some discomfort is a necessary step toward inclusion and growth. We embrace these opportunities with the ECHO approach: being Engaged, Courageous, Humble and Open to ensure that we hear each person the way that person wants to be heard.
Engaged, we embrace conversation, rather than flee, dominate, or shut it down.
Courageous, we address — rather than avoid — difficult topics.
Humble, we check on whether we are understanding and communicating well.
We won’t pretend that this is easy. When our actions upset others, it is not always possible to immediately reach a resolution and diffuse everyone’s discomfort. Left unchecked, confusion and frustration can lead to hostility, disrespect and avoidance, preempting the healthy conversations that give rise to diversity’s long-term benefits. Consider these examples of potentially derailing encounters, which are based on actual student experiences:
The ECHO approach takes on these situations in an almost literal way. To stay engaged when we respond to challenging viewpoints, misperceptions and other frustrations, we must first attempt to echo what we’ve heard in order to make sure we’ve understood the speaker’s intent:
With this kind of engagement, we can more accurately understand what someone has said and create a shared awareness of one another’s views. We can then courageously explore and respond to those views — committed to being humble and open as opportunities arise — and thus increase our chances of having an informed and respectful dialogue.
We know that communication is the foundation of community. And like a good workout, difficult conversations are opportunities to build strength. We embrace them as tools to gain understanding of one another and of the organizational demands we face.
At UCLA Anderson, we know that our differences help us to discover other viewpoints and drive change around the globe. Supporting our identity clubs and committed allies throughout the Anderson community, our activities foster appreciation for Anderson’s various communities and the values, histories and traditions of each one. These activities are vital in creating understanding and a sense of connection — valuable resources with which to collectively conquer the everyday stresses of a top business school.
As we ECHO one another across campus, we not only build community, we build vital skills for leadership in the increasingly diverse world of work. We will support this skill development at the school in multiple ways, including through thoughtful coursework, co-curricular workshops and student club activities such as Awareness Week.
UCLA Anderson and the Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion are continuously investing in inclusive skills development for all members of the community. Currently, our principles are being integrated into coursework, co-curricular workshops and student-led events such as LGBTQ Awareness Week and Embracing Diversity Week.