Building an inclusive workspace.

Diversity and inclusion are two words that have become common in workplaces across the world. They are more than mere buzzwords, however. Organizations that have successfully established a diverse workforce can reap the proven benefits.

Benefits of an inclusive work environment.

An inclusive workforce is one where a mixture of people is represented across genders, religions, ages, ethnicities, abilities, and other characteristics that might be central to someone's daily experiences. Let's briefly explore some of the significant benefits you can gain by fostering an inclusive work environment.

Diversity can enhance your overall revenue.

Promoting diversity and inclusivity can enhance your overall revenue. In 2018, a Boston Consulting Group surveyed employees at 1,700 organizations from eight countries. The study found that companies with "above-average diversity on their management teams" produce 19% more innovation revenue. While these companies varied in size and sector, they all benefitted from having diverse management teams. The reasoning behind this is a little more ambiguous, with multiple reasons likely behind the occurrence.

It makes it easier to attract and retain talent.

Currently, organizations are getting to grips with the "Great Resignation", with thousands of workers leaving in their droves. There are various reasons behind this mass exodus, with people abandoning their jobs due to feeling overworked and exhausted after struggling to juggle their work-life balance. Another reason is a pervading sense of underappreciation from employers. Fostering a positive work environment built around the principles of diversity and inclusion can significantly improve your ability to attract and retain employees during these troubling times.

Whatsmore, diverse workplaces are a good selling feature for many employees, with a recent survey by Glassdoor finding that 76% of people looking for work value diversity. By enhancing your ability to attract and retain employees, you will be better positioned to handle the challenges ahead.

You'll empower and motivate your employees.

This ties back into the earlier points made. Yet, inclusive work environments can motivate employees to work harder (increasing profitability) and stay with your company longer (maintain experience levels and reduce hiring costs). In addition to these benefits, a diverse workplace can often enhance the prospects and skills of your employees as well. You are giving your teams the chance to see things in a new way and find new approaches.

People take pride in working for a company that not only shares their values but has a positive social impact. As a manager, it is your responsibility to ensure that your workspace is inclusive and that all members feel free to express themselves. By doing so, you increase the number of viewpoints contributing to and improving your employees' day-to-day lives.

How to build an inclusive workplace environment.

1. Create an accessible workplace for people with disabilities.

Despite considerable progress in recent years, disabled people continue to face severe barriers when it comes to entering the workplace. As an employer, you can help overcome these barriers by creating a more inclusive workplace for disabled job candidates and employees.

Turn your attention to the design or layout of the building and office space, its lighting, noise level, signage or parking, as well as other environmental factors that may present a barrier to a person with a disability.

Employers should strive to make their offices accessible because they have a moral and legal duty. Public sector organizations have a similar duty as service providers such as shops and cinemas, which means that they have to anticipate the needs of disabled users and proactively ensure that their premises are accessible.

Employers provide a positive message by adopting a more accessible workplace, encouraging diversity and attracting a broader, more diverse candidate pool.

2. Inclusive language

Creating a work environment where everyone feels valued and included should be the ultimate goal for anyone in a position of conscious leadership. It is not enough to challenge only explicit and obvious forms of bias to reach this goal. We need to become aware of subtle forms of exclusion and discrimination and tackle these.

Language and communication are the driving force of any organization, but sometimes the way we talk and express ourselves can cause others to feel uncomfortable, misunderstood, or excluded. Fortunately, this can be overcome through education and training, making employees aware of the power of language, helping them to change their behaviour and becoming more actively inclusive.

It is essential to remember that the language we use is constantly evolving. Organizations and their employees must remain open to change and recognize that they will all need to continually evolve to outgrow outdated practices, attitudes, and terminology. Maintaining an open and self-aware mindset is central to ensuring that every individual continues to feel supported, valued, and included at work. Creating this inclusive environment supports employees' emotional well-being, improves their productivity, and contributes to the overall success of an organization.

3. Ensuring there is diversity in leadership positions

Now more than ever, companies are taking a good hard look at their leadership teams and evaluating them using different criteria. It is no longer simply a matter of being educated, qualified, or experienced. People expect to see diversity across the board, and no more so than in leadership positions.

Although the benefits of diversity in leadership are not necessarily measurable or tangible, that doesn't make them any less impactful. When diverse management team members are hired, a company acquires different skill sets, knowledge, and experiences, ensuring that your business doesn't get boxed into a single lane of thinking.

A company's leadership reflects the company itself. So, what does it say when a company makes a point to appoint a diverse mixture of individuals to leadership positions? First of all, it lets people know that the company values inclusivity. It also allows people to understand that the company is ready to serve a wide range of consumers. Your employees may also find it inspirational and motivational, knowing that they can find themselves in leadership positions if they work hard - regardless of their age, gender, ethnicity, religion, sexuality, or other characteristics.

4. Recognize important DEI dates

Success often begets success, and celebrating at work helps build momentum, improve morale, and make the hard times feel worth it.

Workplace celebrations range from monthly birthday parties to rewards for achieving milestones or significant accomplishments in the workplace. Celebrations for the workplace are a great way to reward employees and make them feel appreciated. If planned right, employees will anticipate the next event, improving employee retention and morale. The positive atmosphere of workplace celebrations can also boost productivity.

However, some people feel excluded from such events, damaging morale and isolating employees, the antithesis of an inclusive work environment. The solution should not be banning celebrations. Instead, it is to recognize and celebrate meaningful D&I dates. For instance, on the 17th of May is International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia, a fantastic opportunity to raise awareness of violence and discrimination against lesbian, gay, bi, trans and queer (LGBTQ+) people. Events like this can be an opportunity to better educate your employees and bring them together.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusivity is key to building workplaces of the future.

The case is clear: fostering a positive, inclusive work environment increases company performance.

For organizations to thrive, they need to do more than simply diversify their talent pools. They need to design inclusive workplaces that meet the needs of all their employees and enable everyone in the organization to achieve their full potential.

Our community at The Argonauts supports and fosters purpose-driven cultures by providing the knowledge and tools to support conscious leadership. While our network can assist in building an inclusive, purpose-driven work culture and environment, ultimately, change comes from within.

Are you ready to build a workplace of the future?

Join the community for conscious leadership.