Diversity, Equity & Inclusion - Why is everyone talking about it?
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) is an expression that’s on everyone’s lips lately, and I want to say ''It’s about d*mn time'' (read it with Lizzo’s voice. You know it’ll be a good piece when there’s a Lizzo reference in the first 2 lines).
It grew in importance so quickly, and yet it feels like we didn’t take the time to really explain what it means and why people should care about it. I mean, 3 years ago, DEI was merely a thing!?
This short article aims at laying the foundation of what DEI means, and why companies should care and want to start making efforts towards an environment that’s more diverse, equitable and inclusive.
Introduction to DEI and understanding key terms
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion are three concepts that are often used interchangeably, but they have different meanings, and are all 3 as equally important to create workplace environments that will truly create a sense of community and psychological safety.
Diversity: the differences that exist between people. When saying ‘diverse’ we often think about race, ethnicity, gender, age, religion, (dis)ability - all visible traits of the different people. But we should also look at what’s invisible (or could be invisible) - political perspective, gender and sexual identity, socio-economic status, religion/spirituality, associational preferences. I just name-dropped a few here, there’s definitely more than that: feel free to drop others in the comment section to get the conversation going!
Equity: here, we’re talking about fair and just practices and policies that will ensure everyone can thrive. Being equitable means taking into consideration, acknowledging and addressing structural inequalities, historic and current. We are not all starting from the same place, nor have all the same exact needs. Think about the quote ''Everyone is a genius, but if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid’’ from Einstein. It’s about creating a level playing field where everyone has access to the same opportunities.
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Inclusion: this is when everyone feels respected, has a sense of belonging and is able to participate and achieve their full potential. It’s creating an environment where everyone is valued and respected.?
One frequent mistake we see is businesses focusing solely on the representation of diversity, without putting effort into the equity and inclusion. You can have a company that is both diverse and non inclusive at the same time.?
Why should you care?
When people from different backgrounds work together and feel valued and respected, they bring their unique insights and ideas, which can lead to more creative solutions and better decision-making. Additionally, having a diverse workforce can help businesses better understand their customers and create products and services that cater to a wider audience.?
When employees feel included, they are more likely to feel engaged and committed to the organization. This can lead to increased productivity, better teamwork, and lower turnover rates.
You can only really have a psychologically safe environment when you care about DEI. When there is psychological safety, people feel safe to speak up without fear of retaliation or negative consequences. When employees feel psychologically safe, they are more likely to share their thoughts and ideas, which can lead to better decision-making and problem-solving.
DEI is set to be the most important trend for 2023 and beyond. The world is diverse. One good comparison I like is monoculture VS polyculture. Monocultures are prone to blight and pest because of the lack of diversity of other plants and animal species. But if you have diversity within your forest/plantation (polyculture), it’ll auto-regulate, grow and survive on its own, without human intervention. It’s the same for us humans. By creating a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace, businesses can create a culture that will be more fruitful in ideas, collaboration and ultimately, profit.