The Inclusion Bites Podcast

Ordinary Bloke on an Extraordinary Quest for Inclusion

Stephen Whitton illuminates his journey of self-discovery and promoting inclusivity within the car industry by advocating for mental wealth and challenging the norms of traditional masculinity.

In this engaging episode of The Inclusion Bites Podcast, Joanne Lockwood is joined by Stephen Whitton to discuss microaggressions, the impact on young people within the car industry, and the resistance to diversity and inclusion initiatives. They explore the profound challenges of changing deep-rooted organisational cultures, particularly within male-dominated environments. Tackling topics such as toxic masculinity, discrimination by proxy, and the importance of being unashamedly oneself in the workplace, Joanne and Stephen shed light on the need for industries to evolve and embrace unique talents earnestly.

Stephen comes from a background in the motor trade industry and is a profound advocate for mental health and diversity. During his tenure at Vauxhall Finance and his own used car dealership, he honed his communication skills and an inclusive leadership style. His personal journey of coming out and facing financial and personal adversities led him to create the "MEN ABLE" movement and "Well-being Winners", aiming at transforming male-dominated industries by advocating for mental health, diversity, and inclusion. Stephen's unique approach involves spreading joy and challenging societal norms to inspire individuals to be authentic to their identity.

The conversation with Stephen in this episode reveals the resilience and resistance to change within organisational frameworks and discusses strategies to overcome them. Joanne and Stephen address the generational impact of these challenges, discussing the significance of positive role models and the longing for a cultural shift in workplace dynamics. In sharing his personal experiences of authenticity and transition, Stephen resonates with Joanne's understanding of 'joy' and the pursuit of happiness and sufficiency in life, a common theme throughout the discussion.

As the episode concludes, listeners are invited to explore the power of authenticity, the value of challenging norms, and the pursuit of mental wealth in professional environments. Both Joanne and Stephen highlight the crux of inclusion as not just a corporate checkbox but as a catalyst for real transformation, both at work and beyond.

The key takeaway from this insightful episode is the power of one's journey towards authenticity and the transformative impact that embracing diversity can have on professional environments. Listeners will be inspired by Stephen's mission to spread joy and facilitate societal change, underscoring the ties between personal fulfillment and inclusive cultures. This episode is a call to action for listeners to challenge traditional views, promote mental wealth, and foster environments where every individual can share joy and thrive.

  Published: 18.04.2024 Recorded: 26.02.2024 Duration: 0:53:16 Downloads:   Shownotes:

• AI Extracts and Interpretations
• The Inclusion Bites Podcast #106: Ordinary Bloke, Extraordinary Mission
• Other Links
• SEE Change Happen: The Inclusive Culture Experts
• Inclusion Bites Podcast on YouTube — youtube.com

Clips and Inspirations

The Power of Ordinariness: “Your real superpower is that you, you know, you’re an ordinary bloke. You’re as you look, sound, and act like a very typical, you know, guy on the street, you’re just ordinary.”

— Stephen Whitton [00:02:21 → 00:03:16]

Childhood Survival Tactics: “I think my main survival tactic as a child in what was a very vibrant, very opinionated, very working class family.”

— Stephen Whitton [00:06:04 → 00:06:56]

Automotive Industry Evolution: “Skoda well, that was back in the day where I had a terrible reputation.”

— Stephen Whitton [00:07:27 → 00:07:30]

Industry Pressure and Personal Struggles: “But working in that industry also meant that you were under pressure, stressed, anxious about where your next paycheck was coming from, how big it was gonna be, and all that stuff.”

— Stephen Whitton [00:11:01 → 00:11:11]

Diversity in the Automotive Industry: “if we want to achieve diversity and inclusion in the automotive industry, we have to address men’s mental health.”

— Stephen Whitton [00:18:39 → 00:18:46]

Championing Inclusivity in Masculine Work Environments: “I’ll flash my rainbow bracelet, and I’ll, you know, act up being a bit camp and throw a few gay innuendos in there and suddenly just say to them, look, I’m in the most masculine environment you could be in, but I really don’t give a shit. I don’t care. You know, you can throw whatever you want at me, but just do not throw that banter and that stuff at a 17 year old person, boy or girl, who’s come to work in your business to to to do an apprenticeship because they wanna, you know, work with cars.”

— Stephen Whitton [00:22:02 → 00:22:30]

Personal Resilience and Recovery: “I’ve got no more f’s to give when I’d completely run out of money and everything else. I ran out of those f’s to give.”

— Stephen Whitton [00:34:30 → 00:34:38]

Encouraging Authenticity in the Workplace: “And if that is what I have to do as an ordinary bloke to give other people permission to be themselves, And that gradually, one smile at a time, gets joy back into the industry and back into what we’re doing and gets them recruiting the right people, keeping the right people, then, you know, I’m probably not gonna achieve it in my lifetime, but it’s it’s certainly not a bad place to be on the journey compared to where I was.”

— Stephen Whitton [00:35:12 → 00:35:38]

The Nature of Joy: “I think joy is about, you know, doing well, doing what makes you happy. And it doesn’t matter even if your circumstances are such that, you know, financially, you have to be in a certain place or you have to be in a certain job. You know, you can still find ways of having joy or giving joy or participating in joy with other people.”

— Stephen Whitton [00:41:22 → 00:41:33]

The Joy of Simplicity: “I moved out of a very nice, large, detached house in a very nice area, you know, post the divorce, and moved into a a small rented flat, you know, that overlooks a car wash.”

— Stephen Whitton [00:45:25 → 00:45:37] Definition of Terms Used Microaggressions

• Definition: Microaggressions are subtle, often unintentional, expressions of bias or prejudice. These can take the form of comments, gestures, or behaviours that marginalise people based on their identity, such as race, gender, or sexual orientation.
• Relevance: In the episode, Stephen Whitton discusses experiencing microaggressions within the car industry, highlighting their significant impact on individuals, often leading to feelings of invalidation and undermining a sense of belonging.
• Examples: Asking an LGBT individual intrusive questions about their personal life, or suggesting someone is not a “typical” engineer due to their gender.
• Related Terms: Implicit Bias, Stereotypes, Discrimination, Inclusivity
• Common Misconceptions: Microaggressions are sometimes dismissed as harmless or overly sensitive reactions; however, they are genuine issues that contribute to a hostile and unwelcoming environment.

Traditional Masculinity

• Definition: Traditional masculinity refers to the cultural norms and expectations associated with male behaviour that emphasize attributes such as strength, stoicism, dominance, and emotional restraint.
• Relevance: Stephen talks about challenging these norms by expressing his own identity and advocating for a safe, inclusive environment that supports diverse expressions of masculinity, especially for LGBT individuals.
• Examples: Men who openly express vulnerability or work in professions typically seen as “feminine” defy traditional masculinity expectations.
• Related Terms: Gender Roles, Toxic Masculinity, Gender Identity, Feminism
• Common Misconceptions: Common misconceptions include the belief that traditional masculinity is inherently natural or beneficial when it can often limit men’s emotional expression and contribute to inequality.

Accreditation Program

• Definition: An accreditation program is a structured process through which an organisation evaluates and recognises a company or individual as meeting certain predetermined standards.
• Relevance: ‘Well-being Winners’ is an accreditation program introduced by Stephen Whitton, aimed at recognising businesses in the car industry that uphold well-being and inclusivity.
• Examples: Programs that certify companies as great places to work, or those awarded to businesses meeting specific environmental standards.
• Related Terms: Certification, Quality Assurance, Endorsement, Standards Assessment
• Common Misconceptions: There’s a misconception that accreditation only applies to educational or health institutions, but it’s relevant across all sectors, including the car industry.

Discrimination by Proxy

• Definition: Discrimination by proxy happens when individuals or entities perform discriminatory actions on behalf of others, often due to systemic biases or to enforce prevailing prejudices within a workplace or social group.
• Relevance: The podcast explores how individuals may be complicit in discrimination, often without direct intent, and the reluctance to embrace uniqueness and diversity in the workplace.
• Examples: A hiring manager might overlook a qualified LGBT candidate, not out of personal bias, but due to perceived customer biases.
• Related Terms: Vicarious Discrimination, Implicit Bias, Systemic Racism
• Common Misconceptions: Discrimination by proxy is often mistaken for personal prejudice, but it can also result from societal or organisational pressures to conform to the majority’s biases.

Mental Wealth

• Definition: Mental wealth is the holistic concept that encompasses mental health while also including elements of emotional, psychological, and social well-being.
• Relevance: The episode highlights Stephen Whitton’s work with ‘MEN ABLE’, addressing not only mental health but the broader aspect of mental wealth in male-dominated industries, particularly in challenging toxic cultures.
• Examples: Initiatives focused on improving workers’ life satisfaction, personal development, and work-life balance; rather than only addressing mental health disorders or stress.
• Related Terms: Well-being, Mental Resilience, Emotional Intelligence
• Common Misconceptions: A common misconception is that mental wealth is synonymous with mental health, but mental wealth is more comprehensive, including factors that contribute to overall life satisfaction and fulfillment.

Please connect with our hosts and guests, why not make contact..?
Brought to you by your host Joanne Lockwood
SEE Change Happen
A huge thank you to our wonderful guest Stephen Whitton
Menable

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