Weeks 2–4

The Middle Ground — Follow-Through

Building the practice.

The first week was about noticing. The next three weeks are about doing — one small, consistent action per week. Use the week selector below to navigate.

2 3 4

Which corner are you?

Week 2 — Deepening the script

This week is about using the language from the workshop in real situations — not perfectly, but consistently.

Corner One

This week's focus: redistribute one task

Identify one piece of cultural or emotional labour you have been carrying that belongs to the room, not to you. A committee. An explanation. A translation. This week: name it to someone who has the power to redistribute it. You do not have to demand a solution. Just name it. "I have been carrying [X]. I want to flag that this is not in my job description."

This week's script
"I want to flag something. I have been doing [X] without it being formally recognised or compensated. I would like to discuss what appropriate support looks like."
Reflection prompt

At the end of this week: did you name it? What happened when you did — or what stopped you from trying?

Corner Two

This week's focus: do the reading before asking

This week, every time you have a question about culture, equity, or inclusion that you would normally ask a colleague — search for the answer yourself first. Thirty minutes of research before any ask. Track how many questions you answer yourself. That number is your competence score for the week.

This week's script
"Before I ask — I want to let you know I have already read [X] and looked at [Y]. I am stuck on one specific point. Do you have five minutes?"
Reflection prompt

How many questions did you answer yourself this week? What did you learn that surprised you?

Corner Three

This week's focus: credit the idea to the person who had it

This week, every time someone's idea gets picked up in a meeting, name the person it came from — even if others have moved past it. "I want to go back to what [Name] said earlier." This one habit, practised consistently, changes the room more than almost anything else.

This week's script
"Before we move on — I want to go back to what [Name] said. I don't think we fully engaged with it."
Reflection prompt

How many times did you use attribution this week? What was the response when you did?

Corner Four

This week's focus: choose when you bridge

This week, notice every time you are acting as a bridge between two groups. At least once, choose not to. Let the gap exist. See what happens. You are not abandoning anyone — you are protecting yourself from the cost of always being the one who closes the distance.

This week's script
"I'm not going to be the one to bridge this gap today. I think that's work for [the group / the organisation / this room] to do."
Reflection prompt

What happened when you chose not to bridge? What did you feel? What did the room do?