FEEDBACK AND EQUITY
Balancing the scales of power.
While there are many reasons to pursue feedback, we believe feedback makes the biggest difference when it operates in service of equity.
What does ‘in service of equity’ mean?
In practical terms, it means thinking through concrete ways to embed equity principles into your feedback practice, such as involving clients in your process.
We’ll also help you develop techniques, practices and norms that integrate client perspectives more broadly into how your organization makes decisions.
We encourage this because high-quality feedback systems don’t operate in a vacuum. Rather, they acknowledge and confront issues of power and privilege that exist in peoples’ daily lives.
And they seek to redress inequities in our society by shifting power to voices of those least heard—meaning those who have less economic power or have been historically marginalized due to structural racism, sexual and gender discrimination, or class position.
An equity-driven listening process:
Honors the perspectives of the people receiving services and values their insights and contributions.
Is inclusive and provides ways for clients to co-participate in the feedback loop and become partners in decision-making.
Pays attention to feedback at the margins, particularly from those who have been historically marginalized.
Creates an environment where clients and community members can challenge perceptions and practices of those who may hold more positional power.
Marries comprehensive feedback practices with participatory decision-making approaches that give participants more say about organizational decisions.
Learn more about our equity journey and thinking here.