The Illusion of Inclusion: Building a Truly Collaborative Workplace

Many organizations face a disconnect between their perception of collaboration and inclusion and the reality of how decisions are made. This often manifests as a culture of occasional listening followed by decisions made by a few. When combined with a lack of psychological safety, this can create a challenging environment where employees feel hesitant to speak up and frustrated by not being able to contribute meaningfully.

As a senior leader, you have the power to help shift this dynamic and to foster a truly collaborative culture. Here are some specific actions you can take to make a positive difference:

1. Role Model the Behavior You Want to See

• Actively seek diverse viewpoints: In your interactions and decision-making processes, make a conscious effort to solicit input from a wide range of people and perspectives.
• Engage with ideas: Don't just listen to others; actively engage with their thoughts and concerns, showing that you trust and value their input.

2. Foster Inclusive, Transparent Decision-Making

• Involve others: Be the one to ask questions like, "Who else should be involved in this discussion?" and "How can we gather more input from those who will be impacted?"
• Consider what may be missing: Encourage a more inclusive process by questioning what might be missing or not considered.

3. Make it Safe to Disagree and Debate

• Encourage differing opinions: Explicitly encourage people to share their thoughts, even if they differ from the majority.
• Value dissent: Authentically voice your appreciation of dissenting views, even if you don't ultimately agree.

4. Build a Foundation of Trust and Psychological Safety

• Have regular one-on-ones: Connect regularly with your team members to listen, seeking to understand their experiences and concerns individually.
• Share vulnerably yourself: Build trust by being open and honest about your own fears, mistakes and challenges.
• Encourage a whole-self approach: Create a workplace where people feel comfortable bringing their authentic selves to work, so they can show up at their very best.

5. Celebrate True Collaboration When it Happens

• Highlight success stories: When a decision or project benefits from diverse input and robust debate, celebrate it as a success story.
• Reinforce the value of collaboration: Look for ways to demonstrate the tangible benefits of collaboration to help employees understand its importance.

Making a culture shift to true collaboration takes time and persistence. By modeling inclusive behaviors, fostering transparency, creating safe spaces, building trust, and celebrating collaboration, you can create a more engaged, innovative, and effective organization. We can help! Reach out if you know this is an opportunity area at your organization, and let’s talk.