Rosanna SiboraFeb 5

Why do we have such a gender imbalance at #fosdem & in tech in general?

A real conversation.

Marty: Maria, what do you think about ABC?
Peter: I don't want to speak for Maria, but... (keeps talking for a few minutes).
Anna: Thank you for sharing your perspective, Peter, but I would love to hear Maria's perspective.

If you observe someone dominating a discussion and answering questions that aren't directed at them, please be an ally and moderate the conversation in an inclusive way🧡
#dei #deib

Show threadTormodFeb 5

@RosannaSibora

I think this pattern is really deeply ingrained in our culture, unfortunately. Female co-workers are often reluctant to speak up, even when I know they are probably the most competent to cover the topic we are discussing.

Show threadRosanna SiboraFeb 5

@airwhale I agree that it's often (unfortunately) a part of culture, upbringing etc. However, I don't know who is the most competent person in the room. I would like to find out. When someone is dominating the discussion it's barely possible.

And it's not even that much about finding the most competent person in the room, but rather about gathering diverse perspectives, building up on other people's ideas and co-creating.

#leadership #dei #deib

Show threadTormod

@RosannaSibora

Yes, agreed - you put it better than I managed 😄

All team members have information, skills, experiences or ideas that would be valuable to share and gather. I want all voices to be heard and encourage a collaborative culture, not a competetive one.

It's way harder than I would like.

Feb 5 at 6:27pmWeb
Show threadJohn SchragFeb 6
@airwhale @RosannaSibora Perhaps these gatherings would benefit from having people trained in facilitation helping out? There are all kinds of techniques for managing group conversations in ways that encourage participation, shut down bad behaviour, etc. It’s a whole field of expertise in itself. (I did a lot of work as a facilitator). There’s a real benefit to having a person who has no stake in the content of the conversation, who can instead focus on the process.
Show threadRosanna SiboraFeb 6
@jvschrag @airwhale couldn’t agree more! Not only tech gatherings would benefit from it, but our society in general. I wish facilitation and communication skills would be taught at school. It’s a booster for any kind of interpersonal interaction.