Table 2.

The allyship toolbox: strategies to promote allyship in otolaryngology

Allyship toolbox
Strategy	Implementation in otolaryngology
Always self-reflect	Make a point to be self-aware, recognizing ways that you can do more and address barriers created by power differentials, societal norms or institutional designations. Consider how policies and the structure of healthcare can systematically advantage some at the expense of others
Speak up for others	Do not cast a blind eye. If a coworker, colleague, learner, or patient in otolaryngology is being treated unfairly, take notice, and do something
	Examples: Perform a bystander intervention if you witness a microaggressions; get a patient timely care
Uplift others	Be a talent scout and find ways to mentor and sponsor across differences. Be intentional and ensure that slates of candidates for leadership roles/opportunities include candidates who are underrepresented in medicine. Invite diversity in all papers, panels, and other positions
Read, learn, and educate yourself	Otolaryngology has a growing volume of presentations at national meetings, literature, and other resources to understand challenges in diversity and ways to address them. Also learn from classic books, movies, and other media
Have open dialogs	Widen your sphere to include friendships and professional relationships with fellow otolaryngologists with backgrounds different from your own. Listen without judgment, acknowledge problems. Create braves spaces with psychological safety
Respond with empathy	Recognize that empathy is complex. Though you may not share another’s lived experience, you can empathize with frustration or unjust treatment. This can be giving voice to a problem in a session at a national conference or a conversation over coffee
Confront your own biases	Recognize that we all harbor biases, many of which reside below the threshold of our consciousness. Engage in implicit bias training to learn more about these biases and apply evidence-based strategies to counteract them
Create space for others	Turn the spotlight away from ourselves and towards others whose voices are less often heard or ignored; consider how much space is being taken by oneself versus others and ensure that we give credit where credit is due
Hold others and ourselves accountable	Take stock of your own actions and apologize—rather than justify—when you make a mistake. When you witness a misstep, intentional or inadvertent, capture that teachable moment to make the otolaryngology workplace and patient care better. As leaders we can shape the culture
Identify action items, promote data transparency and measure allyship	Identify the gaps and opportunities related to creating a culture of advocacy for diversity and psychological safety. Accountable allyship involves developing policies and goals with identifiable metrics for health equity workforce diversity, linking to health care outcomes
Support economic growth within underserved communities	Champion local sourcing of hires and supply chains when serving in hospital leadership roles; this can include identifying opportunities to help underserved communities thrive through supporting small businesses and creating jobs
Assure leadership responsibility and accountability	Leaders create a culture of psychological safety. Leaders may require coaching to develop skills to confront bias. Leaders encourage institutions to learn from bias and inequities and disseminate best practices as expected code of conduct and professionalism