This month, IoH Youth Council member, Emily Clark AIH, reviews ‘Ally Up: The Definitive Guide to Building more Inclusive, Innovative and Productive Teams’ by Di Ciruolo.
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‘Ally Up: The Definitive Guide to Building More Inclusive, Innovative and Productive Teams’ is an informative and well-researched, yet personal, recount of author Di Ciruolo’s conversations about Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI). By interviewing managers and recruiters, the author takes a critical look through the lens of DEI at their current workplace, recounting times that companies have failed their employees and how this was ultimately a detriment to the business, and celebrating those who actively ally themselves with marginalised and minority workers. This book seeks to challenge the status quo and provides measurable, actionable solutions for the reader to consider and easily implement within their own lives.
The key theme in Ally Up of proactively supporting those who find themselves in a less privileged position pertains directly to the hospitality industry, wherein, for example, women make up approximately 70% of the total hospitality workforce in the UK, but are often notably absent from Directorial and C-Suite roles within the largest hospitality businesses globally.
Ciruolo argues that although many businesses will proudly exclaim that they have rigid DEI initiatives, many of these schemes fall short due to the lack of true allyship (an active and consistent effort to support and advocate for minority and marginalised groups that you yourself are not a part of), being ingrained within a company’s culture.
By starting immediately in the introduction with forcing the reader to recognise and address their own biases, this book is a masterclass in challenging the norms around minority and marginalised groups that go unchecked in modern society. Ciruolo’s frank and informal style of writing makes reading Ally Up feel like a conversation with a friend, but leaves you feeling energised and motivated to be proactive in recognising our own privilege and using it to speak up for others.
Rather than using shame tactics to guilt the reader into taking action, the book centres itself as a supportive guide to encourage the reader to become a better ally to their minority and marginalised coworkers and reinforces the need for businesses to foster harmonious teams of diverse individuals for productive and happy workplaces. As Di Ciruolo says herself, ‘Inclusion unlocks Innovation’.
With only ten key chapters, each with anecdotes, lessons, and challenges, Ally Up is an approachable step for anyone to take to help position themselves as an ally to marginalised and minority colleagues, whilst recognising the important role that diversity plays in a constructive and productive workforce.
The book addresses the need for leaders to stand up for their workers and ensure that everyone has the same opportunity to become their very best selves, whilst advocating for simple yet powerful changes from everyone within the workplace.
Ally Up is, to me, an essential book for any leader to read to understand how we can all play a part in creating an even playing field for our employees and co-workers, as well as ensuring that equity is at the heart of every workplace, not just to meet diversity quotas, but to explore different perspectives and ensure that everyone is represented in decision making.
This review and rating are the opinion of the reviewer.
5 stars = Exceptional not to be missed | 4.5 stars = Essential read | 4 stars =Very good | 3 stars = Good | 2 stars = Poor | 1 star = Very poor
This book fits into the Team & Leadership pillars under the IoH’s Five Pillars of Learning, an approach to continuing professional development based on the five core areas of hospitality management.
Record your CPD Hours: This book forms part of a member’s CPD hours. You can log your CPD hours here.
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