Impact Matters – Why Leaders Must Champion Diversity AND Inclusion
Did you know that it is National Inclusion Week this week?
Arguably, top leaders should be working on these critical areas EVERY week but we know how the media works and a little bit of focus has to be a good thing, especially if it shines the spotlight on this subject.
Speaking of which, I have a FREE guide for you right HERE.
This year’s theme is “impact matters”, highlighting that everyone holds the potential to make a profound and positive impact.
This is a fantastic theme because employees need to feel valued for who they are as individuals and trust that their ideas and contributions will be listened to and responded to equally.
Every employee should feel empowered to drive the organisation forward through a diverse and inclusive environment, but they cannot achieve it alone. An effective leadership team that champions diversity and inclusion provide authentic role models from which to embed new beliefs and behaviours.’
Now, whilst diversity has been on the agenda for the majority of forward-thinking businesses I’ve worked with over the years, (and certainly once I’ve got my hands on them!) I would caution against seeing this as a “box-ticking” exercise.
Indeed, I am urging business leaders to integrate and champion inclusion far more proactively. Some organisations just focus on diversity and for sure, having a healthy mix of gender, ethnicity, disability, age and sexual preference amongst the workforce is a step in the right direction.
However, if people don’t feel accepted for their individuality and differences, then organisations are merely ticking a box. Inclusion is the utopia all organisations should aim for and that only truly occurs when individuals feel safe to be themselves, regardless of age, sexual preference, gender, ethnicity or disability, They need to feel valued for who they are as individuals and trust that their ideas and contributions will be listened to and responded to equally.
The phrase “bringing your whole self to work” is central to inclusion. If individuals are not having to waste energy and anxiety about covering up something they feel might be looked down upon, then their enthusiasm and focus will be on the job at hand.
This is about individuals being asked and encouraged to get involved and have a say, colleagues demonstrating interest in different views and taking time to understand different perspectives. Every employee should feel empowered to drive the organisation forward through a diverse and inclusive environment but they cannot achieve it alone. An effective leadership team that champions diversity and inclusion provides authentic role models from which to embed new beliefs and behaviours.
So with National Inclusion Week underway, now is a great time to make a start or to refine your current strategy and culture.
For more information, why not grab a copy of my free guide, The Ultimate Guide To Diversity & Inclusion.