Going Beyond Diversity: The Role of Inclusion in Sustainable Development

If someone has a seat at the table, but doesn’t have a voice, how then can they be heard? And if they’re not heard, what impact could they possibly make?

These questions illustrate the significance of ensuring that initiatives towards diversity also foster inclusion.

It’s no news that to build a world that caters to the needs of both the present and future generations, it is imperative to promote diversity and inclusion in all facets of socio-economic and political affairs.

The participation of people from diverse groups in these affairs and their integrated experiences, ideas and talents facilitate multi-faceted growth and development. To this end, sustainable development hinges on the core concept of participation, and not mere presence. In other words, promoting diversity alone is insufficient, as what really matters is that the people present feel included so they can truly participate and add value.

Why Inclusion Matters

Vernā Myers said: “Diversity is being invited to the party; inclusion is being asked to dance”. And the more everyone dances, the merrier the party is. In any organisation, the more input there is from diverse people, the better its output will be. Better output, in the long run, improves the quality of life, promoting sustainability.

Inclusion is one of the keys to unlocking the sustainable development goals (SDGs). However, it is still a work in progress. There is an interdependence between inclusion and sustainable development, where the advancement of one factor positively influences the other.

Organisations should be more intentional about their inclusion culture, by ensuring that it aligns with SDGs. To make this possible, it’s important to understand how these concepts work hand-in-hand in creating a brighter future. Here are 3 key roles that inclusion plays in sustainable development:

1. Better decision-making

Sometimes, it takes just one voice to change the world. Other times, the missing puzzle piece in the big picture could be a different perspective. Without an inclusive culture, that voice may never be heard, and that perspective may never get shared. The unity of diverse perspectives allows organisations to assess situations from various angles, make well-rounded decisions, and achieve sustainable impact. However, in the absence of inclusion, their capacity to add value is limited.

Creating more effective solutions is made possible by involving people from diverse backgrounds in leadership, management, and other affairs. They provide unique and fresh insights that positively shape the decision-making process. With diverse representation at the top, there is a deeper understanding of the needs of different groups of people and how to meet those needs, which fosters economic growth, reduced inequality, and innovation, and consequently, sustainable development.

2. Greater innovation

Diversity pools together great minds from different backgrounds, while inclusion gives those minds a voice to share their ideas. These ideas are born from their unique experiences which give them a fresh outlook on ways to create value.

In Theodore Levitt’s words, ‘Creativity is thinking up new things. Innovation is doing new things’. Essentially, innovation is about bringing ideas to life. A brilliant idea could be sitting idly in someone's mind just because they never get the chance to share it. In an environment where there is so much potential, an inclusive culture is necessary to ensure that potential doesn’t go to waste.

No single group of people is superior to others in being innovative. Everyone has something to bring to the table, that is, if they are allowed to. By creating a safe space where innovation can thrive, people get the opportunity to transform ideas from mere thoughts and suggestions to impactful solutions. These solutions then create value and accelerate development.

3. Increased productivity

The people who put in their best at work to add value have a sense of purpose. And in an environment where people are valued and heard, they develop a sense of purpose. Through an inclusive culture, employees are fully engaged, more committed, and healthier, and can deliver optimally on their objectives.

With this sense of purpose and belonging comes synergy. There is better collaboration and team-spirit, which ultimately boosts the organisation’s overall productivity. Higher productivity results in more output, promoting economic development.

Inclusion creates a ripple effect as it improves the quality of leadership, innovation and overall productivity which are factors necessary in driving sustainable development and creating a better world for all.

#Inclusion #Sustainability