Why and how to drive inclusion in your organization?

A diverse workforce is proven to bring diverse perspectives and viewpoints to the organization, thus fostering innovation. As such, attracting diverse talent is a must to survive the challenges today's business environment. Yet, diversity is not successful until inclusion is also properly addressed. When employees feel compelled to hide or mask key aspects of themselves at work because they are unsure, unsafe, or invisible, it can have a negative impact on motivation, engagement, and (in the end) employee retention and turnover.

Therefore, what can we, as HR professionals, do in order to foster inclusion within the organization?

1.?????Educate all our employees

To foster inclusion, all employees need to be aware of why a non-judgmental approach is the way to go in life, and not just a business request. As such, the leadership of the company needs to act as a role model when it comes to presenting the values of the company, and understanding should clearly be one of them.

2.?????Celebrate diversity

Diversity is such a lovely thing, it reminds us how different and unique we all are. As such, it needs to be properly celebrated. At Kaufland, we take this very seriously, thus, during the month of diversity, we are present at various events which aim to further enhance diversity. We are also part of the signatories of the Diversity Chart, thus, turning our stance towards diversity into a public statement.

3.?????Measure your progress and set yourself achievable objectives

A clear agenda with measurable objectives is way easier to follow. First, think about the target group you aim to better integrate within your organization. Then, think about numbers that will help you measure the process of inclusion. Indeed, we deal with people, so empathy is also a must-need, but the numbers will be of help when trying to understand whether you are on the right track. Whether you want to implement specific trainings, projects, or to achieve a specific number diverse employees, these goals need to be set according to the vision of the company.

Clearly, a complete inclusion is more than meets the eye and within Kaufland we strive to achieve it every single day. What other tips and tricks do you have for driving inclusion within organizations?