Inclusive Communication Scenario in Sports
Setting
Two executives in a leading women's sports organization, Michelle, the VP of Marketing, and Bria, the VP of Partnerships, are meeting to finalize the marketing strategy for their new "EmpowerHer" campaign, designed to highlight women athletes from diverse backgrounds. Both are seasoned professionals but have very different ideas about how to approach the campaign. Their disagreement begins during a planning meeting with the broader marketing and partnerships teams.
Conversation
Michelle (VP of Marketing):
"I really think we should focus the campaign on broad appeal. Let’s highlight a mix of superstar athletes who have the most visibility. We’ll create content that resonates with the majority of our audience—women who already follow these high-profile names. The brand recognition will make it easier to get traction."
Bria (VP of Partnerships):
"I hear you, Michelle, but that feels like a safe play. We’re missing a huge opportunity to uplift women athletes from underrepresented communities—LGBTQ+ athletes, women of color, and those with disabilities. It’s about time we challenge the status quo and tell stories that don't often get the spotlight. Our audience is ready for that."
Michelle:
"I get that, but we have limited resources. If we focus too narrowly on athletes who don't have mainstream recognition, the campaign might fall flat. And let’s be real—our sponsors expect visibility and big numbers. They’ll want to see that we’re pushing the most recognizable faces."
Bria:
"But isn’t that the point of EmpowerHer? To disrupt the norm and create visibility for all women, not just the ones who already have it? Our long-term partnerships thrive when we push boundaries, not when we stick to what's safe. Plus, DEIA isn’t just a box to check—it’s about taking action and standing behind our values."
The room gets tense as both executives pause. Michelle folds her arms, clearly frustrated. The team is split, looking at each other for cues. A resolution seems far off.
Steps to Resolution Using DEIA Principles
1. Pause & Acknowledge Perspectives:
Michelle and Taylor both want the campaign to succeed, but they are coming from different perspectives. The first step is to create space for each viewpoint to be validated.
You (DEIA Principle: Inclusive Listening):
"Let’s take a step back. Michelle, I hear that you're concerned about meeting our short-term goals with recognizable athletes, and Taylor, you want to prioritize inclusion of lesser known athletes to push boundaries. It sounds like there is potential for both of your perspectives to bring value to this campaign."
Both executives nod, and the tension eases a bit.
2. Reflect on the Bigger Picture:
Remind the team about the organization's values, which include both excellence and inclusion.
You (DEIA Principle: Equity & Inclusion in Decision-Making):
"Our goal with the EmpowerHer campaign is not just visibility, but meaningful impact. How can we ensure we’re balancing our short-term goals with a long-term strategy that aligns with our values of inclusion and equity?"
Bria:
"I think we can tell powerful stories that resonate even without household names. There are ways to make that relatable and impactful."
Michelle:
"I’m open to that, but we need a way to bring in metrics that show our sponsors and primary partners that this approach is effective."
3. Find Common Ground:
The team works to blend both strategies using a more inclusive lens.
You (DEIA Principle: Diverse Perspectives):
"What if we create a two-tier approach? We can highlight a few big names for visibility but anchor the campaign around a narrative of inclusivity by featuring athletes with smaller audiences. We could ensure diverse backgrounds are represented on both sides of the campaign. We could do storytelling segments that focus on how these athletes learn, train, and contribute to their sport, tying it into our long-term vision for EmpowerHer."
Michelle (smiling):
"That’s smart. We can spotlight athletes like Serena for mass appeal but also introduce lesser-known athletes in our video and social content."
Bria (nodding):
"Exactly. And we could include data-driven elements to show how including diverse stories expands our audience—sponsors will love that."
4. Co-create the Final Plan:
Together, Michelle and Taylor outline the campaign structure, balancing high-visibility athletes and lesser known names. They decide to develop a series of digital content highlighting the unique journeys of athletes with smaller audiences, supported by more traditional media campaigns featuring recognizable faces.
You (DEIA Principle: Collaborative Solutions):
"This approach gives us the flexibility to meet immediate sponsor needs while also building a long-term narrative that aligns with our DEIA goals."
Michelle:
"And we can track how the diverse stories resonate to build a case for future campaigns."
Bria:
"Plus, our audience will see that we’re truly walking the talk when it comes to diversity and inclusion. This could be a game-changer."
Key Takeaways for Incorporating DEIA Strategies in Conflict Resolution:
Inclusive Listening: Allow all voices to be heard and validate different perspectives, especially when they stem from diverse backgrounds or represent underrepresented groups.
Equity in Decision-Making: Revisit the organization’s DEIA principles and ensure that both short-term and long-term strategies align with the values of equity and inclusion.
Leverage Diverse Perspectives: Acknowledge that different viewpoints can lead to a more innovative and effective solution. Blending ideas often results in a more comprehensive approach.
Collaborative Solutions: Co-create solutions that balance the needs of the organization with the values of diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility. This ensures buy-in from all parties and keeps the focus on long-term impact.
Final Note:
Resolving conflicts using DEIA principles not only brings more inclusive solutions but can also lead to more innovative, relatable, and sustainable outcomes—ones that both move the needle and stay true to the mission of uplifting everyone. Plus, navigating these discussions successfully strengthens your leadership skills, which will make future campaigns even smoother!
