What’s stopping executives from being inclusive leaders?

When we talk about leadership development, we often focus on what we need to add to our day-to-day work. More coaching, more training, more people in our network. But what about removing the barriers that keep us from leading more inclusively??

Building an equitable work culture requires executives to think about how they can provide more professional opportunities, benefits, and engagement initiatives to make sure all employees feel a sense of belonging and are compensated fairly. It also requires executives to develop the cultural intelligence they need to identify what’s holding them back from making these crucial changes.?

Cultural intelligence (CQ) goes beyond simply recognizing differences; it involves embracing these differences and using cultural insights to drive inclusion and overall success. It’s what makes an inclusive leader.?

Before diving into how executives can improve their cultural intelligence, let’s look at common challenges that are holding them back from fostering inclusion at their companies.?

• Fear of making mistakes: “I don’t want to say the wrong thing,” is a common response from leaders who are learning about different communities. This fear of offending someone can prevent them from taking the necessary steps to learn about other cultures.?
• Resistance to change: Some leaders are so comfortable with their leadership style and company culture that they don’t see the need to adapt the work environment to create a sense of belonging for people in other communities.?
• Time constraints and insufficient resources: Limited time, no budget, and very few executors on the team can be overwhelming, causing leaders to give up before they even start the work.?
• Unconscious biases: Everyone has biases that are shaped by individual experiences, cultural backgrounds, and societal influences without our awareness. While some may be unintentional, they can be harmful to employees and the workplace culture.?
• Inadequate feedback loops: Employees want to feel seen, heard, and valued. If leaders aren’t evaluating their team’s experiences or asking for feedback on how to improve the culture, this can lead to disengagement and distrust.?
• Hiring for culture fit rather than culture add: When it’s time to hire, leaders may prefer to recruit people who “fit” the current culture, leading to a homogenous workplace that lacks diversity.?

How to actively build inclusive leadership skills

After identifying the barriers that keep you from effectively leading diverse teams, it’s time to create an action plan.?

Perfeqta’s 4A Framework for Inclusive Leadership shares how you can develop higher emotional intelligence and progress toward change, regardless of your title or role.

Here are the 4As broken down:

• Awareness: Having the knowledge and perception of who you are and how your experiences influence your thinking and interactions.
• Appetite: A desire to learn, grow, and shift your individual mindset in order to be more inclusive.
• Action: Taking the necessary measures to move beyond learning and understanding to change behaviors.
• Accountability: Owning and accepting responsibility for your actions and remaining open to feedback that pushes you toward inclusive practices.

Self-reflection and ongoing education are key to unpacking your unconscious biases and gaining awareness of the systemic barriers that exist for historically excluded employees. This helps clear the path to implement equitable policies, programs, and structures.?

Incorporate inclusive leadership into your day-to-day work

Our Executive's Guide to Inclusive Leadership is a great resource for leaders who want to build cultural intelligence and create a sense of belonging at their companies.?

This guide covers:

• Strategies for elevating emotional intelligence to lead more effectively.
• Recommendations for programs and initiatives that promote lasting, equitable change.
• Tips on how to measure the success of your inclusive leadership development and create a culture of accountability.

Click here to download your copy!