Diversity and inclusion matters

While intentions may be good, all too often it seems the phrase “diversity and inclusion” has become the buzz. 

All too often, companies simply check the boxes and tout the fact they hire minorities, especially minority women.

A truly diverse culture is about way more than checking boxes, and an e-book by The Muse highlights some best practices. (It’s downloadable from the link.)

“First, it’s crucial to recognize that diversity and inclusion isn’t something you can set and then forget,” says Kat Boogaard. “Making strides is an ongoing endeavor that requires being self-aware, selfless and forward-thinking. Then, it’s time to focus your efforts on these two critical areas: building a diverse team and emphasizing inclusivity in your workplace. Rest assured, there are plenty of resources and tactics that can help you succeed at both.”

First, it’s important to understand what each word truly means. Diversity means there is a combination of experiences, opinions and backgrounds. This includes gender, sexual orientation and race, but also disabilities, age and social backgrounds. Inclusion is harder to define, but often involves encouraging diverse team members to be themselves, and to bring their experiences to the workplace.

Why is diversity and inclusion important?

According to The Muse, research has shown 64 percent of job seekers rate diversity and inclusion in the workplace as a priority. 

But it’s about more than that.

Having a diverse, inclusive work environment is good for the health of an organization. When diverse people, with rich backgrounds, come together, the opportunities for learning are endless. Learning on the job isn’t only about skills and expertise. It’s about cultural appreciation and acceptance.

And that leads to results. A statistic in the e-book says decisions made by a diverse team results in 60 percent better results.

So how do companies build a more diverse and inclusive team?

Some suggestions:

• Remove barriers from the hiring process. Make sure you aren’t unintentionally creating requirements that exclude minority candidates.
• Have a diverse hiring panel. Including people from various backgrounds will ensure that employers seek candidates from varying backgrounds, as well.
• Inclusivity won’t happen overnight. The key is to start small.
• Create groups to help focus on diversity and inclusion.
• Ask employees what they want and need.

“There’s no way around it: Diversity and inclusion are undeniably important for a thriving team, a positive company culture and a successful organization,” The Muse says.

I’d like to hear your feedback. How is diversity and inclusion important to your team? How do you learn from each other? Please email me at [email protected].