We’re living in a moment when DEI has become a lightning rod. For some organizations, that means a pause—or even a retreat.

But a pause doesn’t have to mean silence. It can mean sharpening.

When content is politicized, leaders can focus on what no one can take away: skills.

Skills are the muscles of relationship that make workplaces sustainable and resilient:

• Feedback and reflection: readiness to listen, courage to speak truth.
  Challenge yourself to build spaces where feedback is not only invited but acted on.
  
• Presence and patience: slowing down to hear each other fully.
  Silence is often misunderstood. We treat it as a gap to be filled, but it is one of the most powerful leadership tools. Silence allows people to process, gather courage, or find language for what matters most. In my facilitation of Connection Circles, I’ve seen how the quietest moment can open the door for the most honest share. Practice letting silence carry weight in your next meeting.
  
• Curiosity and humility: choosing learning over certainty.
  Ask a genuine question this week where you don’t already know the answer.
  
• Resilience and spaciousness: tending to our nervous systems when conversations are charged. Notice your body’s response in a tough conversation, and practice grounding before you reply.
  

These aren’t “extras.” They’re the foundations of leadership and professional growth.

In my work with schools and organizations, I’ve seen that the ability to connect with colleagues bolsters all growth. Connection makes the learning stick.

As those responsible for professional development, we can adapt the tools we already know—circle practice, coaching frameworks, reflective journaling—and re-purpose them to strengthen these capacities.

Content may be contested. Skills endure.
And it is through skills that culture changes.