Striving for inclusivity and equity in your philanthropy team. How can you ensure everyone's voice is heard?

Realizing that every person has different life experiences is the first step in utilizing those differing perspectives to add value. As an example, when considering different areas of a university that affects student life on campus, we went around the room to discuss what each person thought. I didn’t grow up in the USA and when I attended university in Florida, there were different challenges for me than my roommate faced. She had an eating disorder (one issue that students face) and I lacked basic familiarity of the country and had a sense of lacking since my family was in a different country. Realizing those experiences helped us think of ways to improve lives of students just like us and it’s helped to listen and learn from each other.

Beyond being open to hearing what people have to say, pay attention to how they say it and what they’re leaving out. Use the same skills you bring to listening to donors and prospects to your teammates and colleagues. Body language and tonality will help you better understand what’s really being shared.

Most often, people attribute active listeners to 'laisser faire' leaders. Decision making requires objectivity and the best way to make informed decisions is to open up to your team and allow them to make suggestions. Active listening drastically reduces dictatorial tendencies. When a team leader involve team members in decisions making processes, they do not only get the right results, but they also motivate their team members to feel appreciated. This makes organizations to meet deadlines, achieve a high rate of success and retain the best brains in the team.

Encourage your team to bring fully-fledged ideas to the table. Maybe you have an initiative you need direction or even a starting point on. That’s the perfect sort of project to ask a team member to research and propose. I’ve seen first hand the positive impact this sort of trust and empowerment does to morale and excitement at work.

Start by making sure your team is connected and has each other’s back. Knowing that someone cares will allow me to open myself up to their feedback and not see it as an attack.

Celebrate success large and small. The small achievements often serve as building blocks for the more notable ones. Helping everyone understand how they’ve contributed to successes can energize the whole team.

Ultimately the test of if someone's voice is being heard is do they feel their ideas contribute to the greater outcome. So there is a healthy dose of humility that is required. Listen and act. When you solicit feedback be authentic about it and be willing to incorporate ideas!