Psychological safety is often spoken about as something we want to create, but it is shaped by the everyday behaviours people experience from those holding power.

A leader can value inclusion, care deeply about equity and still behave in ways that make others feel cautious, unseen or unsure whether it is safe to speak, challenge, contribute or disagree.

In this episode, I’m joined by Preetie Boler, leadership behaviour strategist, facilitator, founder of Empowered by Design and author of Shiftcode Leadership.

Together, we talk about the leadership behaviours that shape psychological safety, trust and inclusion, especially when pressure is high and the gap between intention and impact becomes harder to ignore.

Preetie shares how behavioural intelligence helps leaders recognise their blind spots, notice how they respond under pressure, share power more consciously and take accountability when their impact does not match their values.

In this conversation, we discuss:

• Why psychological safety begins with leadership behaviour
• How well-meaning leaders can still undermine trust
• Why intention and impact are not the same in inclusive leadership
• What repair and accountability can look like when harm has been caused

This is a powerful conversation for leaders, coaches, consultants, facilitators and business owners who care about inclusion and want to better understand how their behaviour shapes the spaces they lead.

Connect with Preetie Boler

Shiftcode Leadership Book

Website

LinkedIn

How I Can Personally Support You:

If you're realising that you need a way to stay connected to this work consistently, to be in community with others who are on the same journey, to have a space where the learning deepens rather than dissipates, that's exactly what we do inside REPRESENTED.

REPRESENTED is a ten week racial inclusion program for values-led online business owners. Find out more and join the waitlist👉🏾 https://anniegichuru.com/represented-waitlist/

Come say hi on Instagram, let me know where you are tuning in from. I'd love to hear from you 👉🏾 https://www.instagram.com/annie.gichuru

If you’ve been learning about anti-racism through books, podcasts or your own reflection, you might be wondering… is this enough?

Today I’m unpacking the pros and cons of solo learning vs community learning in anti-racism training and why many online business owners eventually reach a point where learning alone no longer gives them the clarity they need.

Whilst solo learning can feel more private, flexible and accessible, it can also lead to overwhelm, confusion and staying stuck in theory without knowing how to apply what you’re learning in your business.

Inside this episode, I share:

• The real benefits of solo anti-racism learning (and where it starts to fall short)
• Why community learning can deepen your understanding and support real change
• The common fears that show up in group learning spaces and how to navigate them
• How to know when it’s time to move beyond learning on your own
• What to look for in a racial equity program or community

If you are a coach, course creator or online business owner who wants to build a more inclusive business but feels unsure about your next step, this episode will help you make a more informed decision.

How I Can Personally Support You:

If you're realising that you need a way to stay connected to this work consistently, to be in community with others who are on the same journey, to have a space where the learning deepens rather than dissipates, that's exactly what we do inside REPRESENTED.

REPRESENTED is a ten week racial inclusion program for values-led online business owners. Find out more and join the waitlist👉🏾 https://anniegichuru.com/represented-waitlist/

Come say hi on Instagram, let me know where you are tuning in from. I'd love to hear from you 👉🏾 https://www.instagram.com/annie.gichuru

Have you ever felt like every time you step back into racial equity work, you're starting from scratch? Like the learning you've done before hasn't been retained because you haven't been practising it?

In this episode, I share a simple journaling practice designed to help you stay in racial equity work consistently, without feeling like you need to keep rebuilding from zero.

Drawing on the work of trauma therapist Resmaa Menakem and neuroscientist Lisa Feldman Barrett, I walk you through a three part practice you can return to again and again. One that honours what your body is telling you, invites self-reflection and helps you track your growth over time.

What you'll hear in this episode:

• Why so many values-led business owners feel like they're constantly restarting in their racial equity journey
• The three questions that form the foundation of a sustainable journaling practice
• How to bring intention to what you're consuming before you consume it
• What your body is telling you when you encounter content that brings up discomfort
• How to tell the difference between a break that's part of the practice and one that's a departure from it
• One small shift that helps this work stop feeling separate from your everyday life.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• My Grandmother's Hands by Resmaa Menakem
• How Emotions Are Made by Lisa Feldman Barrett

How I Can Personally Support You:

If what you're realising today is that you need a way to stay connected to this work consistently, to be in community with others who are on the same journey, to have a space where the learning deepens rather than dissipates, that's exactly what we do inside REPRESENTED.

REPRESENTED is a ten week racial inclusion program for values-led online business owners. Find out more and join the waitlist👉🏾 https://anniegichuru.com/represented-waitlist/

Come say hi on Instagram, let me know where you are tuning in from. I'd love to hear from you 👉🏾 https://www.instagram.com/annie.gichuru