Increasing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Workplace

In recent years, the call to increase diversity, equity, and inclusion in workplaces has risen. As these initiatives have grown, so have opportunities for those belonging to minority groups to take center stage and bring their ideas to life. But why are these things important? And what can you do on an individual level to support diversity in your current and future workplace?

Why Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Matter

It’s simple to understand how an increase in diversity leads to an increase in creative thinking within organizations. Consider the solutions your company tends to find themselves utilizing over and over. With the help of diverse thinking, you’ll see solutions you never would have considered solving the issues that plague your company.

Forbes?adds, “Diversity gives you access to a greater range of talent, not just the talent that belongs to a particular world-view or ethnicity or some other restricting definition. It helps provide insight into the needs and motivations of all of your client or customer base, rather than just a small part of it. And, potentially, as McKinsey & Co and a host of other highly credible researchers have shown, it makes your organization more effective, more successful,?more profitable.”

But we’re not only talking about diversity. We’re also discussing equity and inclusion. It may be easy to dismiss the idea that some people are treated poorly because they’re different, but despite workplaces being occupied by adults, some still see differences in their peers and refuse to treat them equally. Equity “refers to fairness and justice” according to the?National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE). Inclusion means allowing everyone to take part in activities like brainstorming and making decisions.

What Can You Do?

You may feel like as an individual, you don’t have the power to make a difference in your workplace. That’s simply not true. You can reach out to the people around you and help them feel safe and valued. One person’s support is often enough to create a culture of inclusion that spreads quickly.

Try some of the following if you’re interested in making a change:

·??????Keep politics out of the workplace.?Whether intended to be or not, politics are an incredibly polarizing topic. Additionally, politics affect individuals on an often-personal level that may be difficult to understand. Regardless of your feelings towards political matters, keep your political thoughts to yourself. Doing so will create more trust in your work environment.

·??????Always be respectful and remember you don’t know everything about your coworkers.?It’s impossible to know everything that’s happening in someone’s life. Remember that your coworkers are your friends, but you likely know only a small portion of what matters to them. Show kindness in your words and actions.?

·??????When someone is sharing a life experience, listen carefully.?People’s backgrounds highly influence the way they think. If a peer chooses to share a personal life experience with you, especially if it identifies them as part of a marginalized group or is regarding a sensitive topic, show you care by listening and allowing yourself to learn about them. This will help you in the future to understand where they are coming from when you have differing ideas.

·??????Ask your peers what they think.?When you’re participating in meetings about new ideas and strategies, invite those who have not spoken to share their thoughts on the matter. This practice ensures that all voices in the room have a chance to speak up. By doing this, you are more likely to hear an idea that revolutionizes the way you and your group think.?

·??????Give credit where credit is due.?It may be tempting to claim ownership of an idea or work that you feel responsible for. However, never claim to have completed a project or come up with a possibility on your own when you did not. When receiving or giving praise, include specifically everyone whose hands touched any part of the project. When everyone involved is recognized for their hard work, you stand a better chance of working together on projects in the future and earning the respect of those around you.

·??????Put yourself in someone else’s shoes.?If someone asks for an accommodation you don’t understand, put yourself in their shoes. Ask yourself how it would feel to be treated poorly or denied what you specifically asked for in order to make you feel comfortable in the workplace. Would you stay, despite your treatment? Would you wake up excited to go to work if you were being?excluded?for things you couldn’t change about yourself??

You may not feel like these things affect you on a personal level. It’s possible you believe no one in your workplace has ever felt uncomfortable because of their identity. If this is the case, you may not be looking close enough at the issues before you. Problems within the workplace happen on a daily basis.?

You can make a difference by supporting diversity, equity, and inclusion in your personal life. We encourage you to be a trustworthy coworker and care for the individuals around you.?

Which of these tactics have you employed at your own job?

Interested in learning more about the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives and how to be a good leader? Check out Utah’s MBA programs to get started today.