It’s A New Year Eve

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I am not usually one for New Year Resolutions, believing instead that the shift happens because of realisations. ?As we all know, the world changes when we change.? ?But we came into this year with some strong and distorting anti-diversity and Inclusion winds blowing, now we know that error cannot really threaten truth, but do we really know our truth!?? I feel a sense of urgency and write this newsletter to say simply that it is time for us to acknowledge and accept that all shallow roots must be uprooted as they cannot sustain us. ??It is a new year Eve… so let’s go about our work with focussed intention.

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So, just this once, I’ve allowed myself and hope that you’ll permit me not just one, but 12 New Year's Inclusion Resolutions, one for each month with a corresponding challenge to help you stay engaged and focused on fostering inclusion throughout the year. ??I’ve written two versions, the first for us as individuals and an alternative version tailored specifically for HR Directors, with a monthly focus to manage and promote inclusion in the workplace.? Now you don’t have to use the list I have compiled, reorder it, make your own, decide as a team what you want to do it’s up to you:

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Managing Your Own Inclusion Calendar

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January: Educate Yourself - I know that the month is all but spent but nonetheless take a moment to:

Resolution: Learn about a different culture or social identity group.

Challenge: Read a book or watch a documentary about a culture or community different from your own.

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February: Foster Inclusive Communication

Resolution: Practice inclusive (clean) language in your daily conversations.

Challenge: Compassionately correct yourself every time you catch yourself using non-inclusive language and explain why to those around you.

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March: Celebrate An Aspect of Diversity

Resolution: Acknowledge and celebrate cultural events and festivals from around the world.

Challenge: Attend a cultural event or festival that is not part of your own culture. Here’s a few pointers March is Women’s History Month, World Down Syndrome Day, Ramadan, Purim, Holi and?Easter

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April: Promote Accessibility

Resolution: Advocate for and practice accessibility in your environment.

Challenge: Spend a day navigating your usual environments with a simulated disability, like using a wheelchair or wearing a blindfold, to better understand accessibility challenges.

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May: Encourage Diverse Perspectives

Resolution: Seek out and listen to voices and perspectives different from your own.

Challenge: Engage in a conversation with someone who has opposing views, and actively listen without arguing or debating.

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June: Support Minority Businesses

Resolution: Consciously support businesses owned by minorities or underrepresented groups.

Challenge: Only shop at minority-owned businesses for a week.

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July: Promote Inclusivity at Work

Resolution: Advocate for inclusive practices in your workplace.

Challenge: Propose and help to implement a new diversity and inclusion initiative at your workplace.

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August: Volunteer for a Cause

Resolution: Contribute your time to an organization that promotes inclusivity or supports a marginalised group.

Challenge: Volunteer a certain number of hours for a cause that supports inclusivity.

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September: Expand Your Social Circle

Resolution Make a conscious effort to expand your social circle to include people from diverse backgrounds.

Challenge: Make a new friend from a background very different from your own.

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October: Share Your Learning

Resolution: Share what you have learned about inclusion with others.

Challenge: Host a discussion group or workshop on an inclusion topic you've learned about.

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November: Reflect and Evaluate

Resolution: Reflect on your own biases and work on overcoming them.

Challenge: Identify one personal bias and take active steps to challenge and change it.

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December: Plan for the Next Year

Resolution: Evaluate your inclusion journey over the past year and plan for the next year.

Challenge: Write down your inclusion goals for the next year and steps on how to achieve them.

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Remember, the key is to start small and stay consistent. Every step towards inclusivity is a positive one!

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HR Version

January: Conduct an Inclusion Audit

Resolution: Assess the current state of inclusion in your organisation.

Challenge: Conduct surveys and focus groups to understand areas needing improvement in workplace diversity and inclusion.

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February: Inclusive Hiring Practices

Resolution: Review and improve the inclusivity of your hiring process.

Challenge: Implement at least one new practice that promotes diversity in recruitment, like blind resume screening.

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March: Diversity Dialogues

Resolution: Organise diversity and inclusion dialogues for employees.

Challenge: Ensure every team undergoes comprehensive inclusion training by the end of the month.

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April: Promote Accessibility

Resolution: ?Improve workplace accessibility for people with disabilities.

Challenge: Audit the workplace for accessibility and implement necessary changes, such as installing ramps or upgrading software for visually impaired employees.

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May: Celebrate Diversity

Resolution: ?Organise events to celebrate diverse cultures and backgrounds in your workforce.

Challenge: Host a cultural diversity day where employees can share their heritage.

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June: Support Employee Resource Groups

Resolution: Encourage the formation and support of Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) for underrepresented employees.

Challenge: Launch or sponsor a new ERG that addresses a current gap in representation.

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July: Reciprocal Mentorship Programmes

Resolution: Develop mentorship programmes to support career advancement for underrepresented groups.

Challenge: Pair up senior leaders with employees from diverse backgrounds for a mentorship program.

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August: Review Policies and Procedures

Resolution: Ensure company policies are inclusive and do not inadvertently discriminate.

Challenge: Revise at least one company policy to be more inclusive.

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September: Inclusive Leadership Training

Resolution: Train managers and leaders on inclusive leadership practices.

Challenge: Organise a workshop training session for all management personnel on inclusive leadership.

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October: Work-Life Balance Initiatives

Resolution: Implement initiatives that support diverse work-life balance needs.

Challenge: Introduce flexible working hours or remote work options to accommodate different needs.

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November: Feedback and Improvement

Resolution: Solicit feedback on inclusion initiatives and identify areas for improvement.

Challenge: Conduct an organization-wide survey to gather feedback on the year's inclusion efforts and identify next steps.

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December: Year-End Review and Planning

Resolution: Evaluate the year’s inclusion efforts and plan for the next year.

Challenge: Develop a comprehensive report on the year's inclusion activities and set clear, measurable goals for the coming year.

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Happy New Year for All of us not just Some of Us. If you feel like you need some support don't hesitate to reach out to us Enolla Consulting