063. Decolonizing think tanks, policy research organizations and consulting agencies: Ajoy Datta

SummaryHow can the feelings of people who work in organizations both facilitate and suppress change?What makes people attach reputation and credibility to another person? And how does this relate to diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts, and these may work out in practice?What's the problem with think tanks from the perspective of a decolonization goal, and what has been the problem historically?In this NGO Soul+Strategy podcast episode, I interview Ajoy Datta,  consultant, policy researcher, and coach, on decolonizing think tanks, policy research organizations, and consulting agencies. Ajoy’s Bio:Independent consultantOver 20 years of experience in the global development and humanitarian sectorSupports leaders, teams, organizations, and networks to collaborate, perform better, learn, innovate, and changePerforms designing, monitoring, and evaluating work to engage with and influence policy and practice as well as strengthen decision-making systemsWorked 12 years at the Overseas Development Institute (DI)'s research and policy unitWorked 3 years at the On Think Tanks (OTT) consulting groupStarted at VSO, the British volunteer agency, in Zambia We discuss: The useful role of psychodynamics in organizational development: what goes on in our minds, consciously and unconsciously, while working in organizations. Some of these feelings are suppressed and below the surfaceDecolonizing organizations means that we aim to do away with hundreds of years of Western, global North power, such as philosophical underpinnings, concepts, frameworks, assumptions, knowledge systems, and leadership profiles. When organizations recruit people who are dissimilar in demographic or experiential profile from those that were thus far considered the 'norm',  the 'default' -- if their organizational culture, expectations towards staff, and org systems don’t adapt to these new profiles, tension will be the result. These people will be at higher risk of either leaving or being ‘spit out’The phenomenon of the glass cliff: when people with demographic profiles different from what was the norm thus far are recruited to high-risk leadership positions, and then fail. What to do about all of this? 1/ Name and acknowledge what is happening. If we fear talking about it, it will never be addressed; 2/ “decriminalize bias"; 3/ create a safe container for discussion; 4/ communicate externally but also internally Resources:Ajoy’s LinkedIn profileAjoy’s Medium blog postsAjoy’s WebsiteSample blog posts: 1, 2YouTube video of this podcastClick here to subscribe to be alerted when new podcast episodes come out or when Tosca produces other thought leadership pieces.Or email Tosca at tosca@5oaksconsulting.org Twitter LinkedIn Facebook