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The CARE Model: A Framework for Leaders Who Want to Do Better

By Licalla

 

Belonging doesn’t happen by accident.
It happens by design.

And design requires a framework — something leaders can return to when things get complicated, when harm happens, when trust breaks, or when teams need clarity.

At Licalla, we use the CARE Model as a practical guide for leaders who want to build cultures where people feel seen, valued, and safe to contribute.

CARE stands for:

Clarity. Accountability. Repair. Equity.

These four practices are simple to understand, but transformative when applied consistently.

 

1. Clarity: Say the Quiet Things Out Loud

Ambiguity is where bias thrives.
When expectations are unclear, people fill the gaps with assumptions — and those assumptions often disadvantage marginalized groups.

Clarity means:

Clear expectations

Clear roles

Clear decisions

Clear communication

Clear feedback

Clarity is not harsh.
Clarity is care.

It removes guesswork.
It reduces anxiety.
It creates fairness.

When leaders practice clarity, people stop wasting energy trying to decode what’s unsaid — and start focusing on the work that matters.

 2. Accountability: Power Used Responsibly

Accountability is not punishment.
It is alignment.

It means leaders hold themselves and others responsible for behaviors that support belonging — and address behaviors that undermine it.

Accountability looks like:

Naming harm when it happens

Following through on commitments

Setting boundaries with compassion

Addressing patterns, not just incidents

Modeling the behavior you expect from others

Accountability is how leaders build trust.
Without it, belonging becomes a slogan instead of a practice.

 3. Repair: Restoring Dignity After Harm

Harm is inevitable.
Repair is optional.

But leaders who repair — quickly, sincerely, and without defensiveness — create cultures where people feel safe to speak up, take risks, and be human.

Repair means:

Acknowledging the impact, not just the intent

Apologizing without excuses

Asking what is needed to move forward

Making changes to prevent repeat harm

Repair is not about perfection.
It’s about responsibility.

Leaders who repair build psychological safety.
Leaders who avoid repair build resentment.

 4. Equity: Designing Systems That Work for Everyone

Equity is not about treating everyone the same.
It’s about ensuring everyone has what they need to thrive.

Equity requires leaders to examine:

Who gets opportunities

Who gets interrupted

Who gets mentored

Who gets promoted

Who gets believed

Who gets left out

Equity is systemic.
It’s not a feeling — it’s a structure.

When leaders design systems with equity in mind, belonging becomes sustainable, not situational.

 Why CARE Works

The CARE Model works because it addresses the four areas where belonging breaks down most often:

Confusion (lack of clarity)

Avoidance (lack of accountability)

Harm (lack of repair)

Inequity (lack of fairness)

When leaders practice CARE consistently, teams experience:

Higher trust

Better communication

Stronger collaboration

More innovation

Reduced conflict

Greater psychological safety

Belonging becomes the natural outcome of how people treat each other — not a program leaders try to enforce.

 A Practice for Leaders: The CARE Reflection

At the end of each week, ask yourself:

Where did I create clarity?

Where did I avoid accountability?

Where do I need to repair?

Where did inequity show up — and what can I redesign?

This reflection turns CARE from a concept into a habit.

 A Final Word

Belonging is not built through statements or slogans.
It is built through leadership practices that honor humanity.

The CARE Model is a bridge — from intention to action, from awareness to change, from harm to healing.

At Licalla, we believe leaders who practice CARE create cultures where people don’t just work.
They thrive.