The best way to be ready to speak up is to prepare. The more we can identify stereotypes and explain why they are hurtful—or just inaccurate—the easier it will be to respond the next time we hear one. Remember, your response can have an impact.
Microaggressions How to Respond as an Actor
Listen with full attention: Listen to understand the misalignment and the impact
Take your time: Acknowledge Your Feelings (Internally)
Resist the urge to defend yourself or the statement. If you need time to process, share that: “I’m pretty overwhelmed right now and I don’t want to respond in a way that I’d regret… do you think that we can connect later?”
Practice Being Good-ish: View the feedback as a gift! (Thank you usually works
better that sorry) “Thank you for bringing this to my attention. I really appreciate
you telling me this.
Prioritize Impact: Acknowledge the impact, make commitments to change behaviour and change. “I understand the impact my actions had… I commit to…”
Communications Strategies & Approaches to Disrupt Bias, 2023.