Beyond Performative Inclusion
Description
Bridging Identity and Organisational Inclusion
Sile Walsh explores the complexities of authentic inclusion, the interplay between lived experience and organisational culture, and how compassionate leadership can bridge divides without sacrificing psychological safety or succumbing to performative
In this episode of The Inclusion Bites Podcast, Joanne Lockwood is joined by Sile Walsh to explore what lies beyond mere performative inclusion in workplace culture. Their conversation traverses psychological safety, organisational power dynamics, and the nuances of identity and belonging. Sile bridges lived experience with leadership insight, laying bare the tensions between conforming to cultural expectations and remaining authentic at work. Joanne shares candid reflections on multiculturalism and its impact on identity formation, prompting Sile to examine how formative experiences in Ireland and the UK have shaped their perspectives on inclusion. The episode dives deep into the complexity of cultural adaptation, the relativity of gender identity, and the importance of creating environments where all individuals—regardless of their background—can thrive.
Sile Walsh is an award-winning coach, author, and leadership specialist from Dublin, with a reputation for embedding equity and psychological safety into global leadership and organisational practice. Volunteering from an early age and working with marginalised communities have given Sile a unique lens on the inequities that shape workplaces and society. Their work draws on lived experience, academic study, and community engagement, encouraging leaders to move from simply “being nice” to taking practical action. Sile runs LS Advantage and has authored "Inclusive Leadership: Navigating Organisational Complexity", equipping organisations with tools for genuinely systemic inclusion. Their approach prioritises meeting people where they are, fostering compassionate accountability, and addressing collective harm rather than seeking superficial approval.
Together, Joanne and Sile scrutinise the pitfalls of performative inclusivity, challenge the misconceptions around “bringing your whole self to work”, and unpack the unintended oppression within affinity groups. They dissect the dangers of power struggles, the perils of “cancel culture”, and the necessity of allowing room for diverse—even oppositional—beliefs, provided they do not result in harm. The episode unearths how polarisation and moral superiority can be antithetical to true inclusion, questioning whether workplace environments actually encourage authentic dialogue or simply reinforce groupthink.
A key takeaway from this episode is the distinction between genuine inclusion and shallow performance. Listeners are invited to reconsider organisational norms, engage curiously with opposing perspectives, and advocate for environments that value psychological safety above binary labels. Joanne and Sile encourage ongoing dialogue, urging listeners to share their stories and challenge their own assumptions—to help create workplaces where everyone is not only welcomed, but empowered to thrive.
Published: 15.01.2026
Duration: Shownotes:
AI Extracts and Interpretations
The Inclusion Bites Podcast #192: Beyond Performative Inclusion
— app.castmagic.io
Other Links
SEE Change Happen: The Inclusive Culture Experts
— seechangehappen.co.uk
Inclusion Bites Podcast on YouTube
Clips and Timestamps
Viral Topic: The Complexity of Cultural Identity: “this sense of home is so, so different. And I really resonate with that because I have brothers who have. So also my accent, it might not be obvious to you, Joanne, but my accent in Ireland is considered English and in England my accent is consider considered Irish, but my brothers have Irish accents.”
— Sile Walsh [00:08:22 → 00:08:38 ]
Viral Topic: Cultural Identity and School Lunches
“It’s interesting these kind of how that kind of cultural mixed background, even though technically both my parents are Irish and my heritage is Irish, still comes into effect because of my lived experiences and being cultured in different, different norms.”
— Sile Walsh [00:09:09 → 00:09:22 ]
Viral Topic: The Relevance of Gender in Social Interactions
“I started to realise that the only time my gender is relevant is when other people are assessing how they want to interact with me. So the pronouns is a respectful way to do it. That’s like a question of how do I respect you in this conversation.”
— Sile Walsh [00:13:45 → 00:13:45 ]
Viral Topic: The Inequality Gap in Communities: “I was constantly seeing that the same thing didn’t result in the same outcome for everyone.”
— Sile Walsh [00:22:33 → 00:22:37 ]
The Power of Environment in Leadership: “I was always using inclusion without that word, because I was helping people understand that the environment you put people in has as much impact on their performance as their capability, and that if that environment is set up correctly.”
— Sile Walsh [00:23:59 → 00:24:13 ]
Viral Topic: The Pitfalls of Identity-Based Hiring in DEI
“Your question should be, am I qualified and capable of speaking about this topic in a nuanced and complex way? Because it is complex, but.”
— Sile Walsh [00:28:52 → 00:28:59 ]
Viral Topic: Who Is Inclusion Actually For?: “if you are dealing with an effective inclusive practitioner, they’re not focused on the minority, they’re focused on what is required for the whole group, which includes the minority.”
— Sile Walsh [00:30:14 → 00:30:24 ]
Viral Topic – The True Purpose of Inclusion in Organisations: “inclusion in organisations has to serve the organisation’s purpose and serving it is making sure that all people, including marginalised people, are able to come to work and thrive without having to do additional masking or hiding or dealing with jabs or fear during the day.”
— Sile Walsh [00:31:33 → 00:31:50 ]
Viral Topic: Working with Homophobia in Organisations: “just because they have belief that I am less human doesn’t make me less human. And when I’m working with them, if I make them less human in my interaction, I’m just replicating the very thing I don’t want to occur.”
— Sile Walsh [00:32:56 → 00:33:08 ]
Viral Topic: Political Polarisation and Workplace Compassion
Quote: “But when we have big, strong political polarizations, I think it’s in people’s interest not to find shared spaces, because then they don’t write.”
— Sile Walsh [00:57:54 → 00:58:05 ]
Definition of Terms Used
What is Performative Inclusion?
- Definition: Performative inclusion refers to organisational behaviours or policies intended to signal commitment to diversity and inclusion, but which lack depth, authenticity, or meaningful systemic change.
- Relevance: The episode explores how performative gestures—such as token gestures, virtue signalling, or surface-level diversity initiatives—can undermine genuine inclusion and psychological safety within organisations.
- Examples: Companies celebrating Pride Month with logos but failing to address anti-LGBTQ+ discrimination, or mandating pronoun usage without fostering real dialogue about gender identity.
- Related Terms: Tokenism, Virtue Signalling, Diversity Washing, Psychological Safety Common Misconceptions: Many believe performative inclusion is a step towards change, but in reality, it can entrench status quo and perpetuate exclusion.
What is Psychological Safety?
- Definition: Psychological safety is an organisational climate where individuals feel secure enough to express themselves, share ideas, or voice concerns without fear of humiliation, punishment, or ostracisation.
- Relevance: The episode connects psychological safety to inclusive leadership, noting it is foundational for productive, open environments and innovation.
- Examples: A team member
United States
