- 1 What is an Inclusive Culture?
- 2 Why an Inclusive Workplace Culture is Important
- 3 An Inclusive Culture Enables a Diverse Workplace to Thrive
- 4 Removing the “Identity Cover”
- 5 Inclusivity Checklist
- 6 Empowering the Workforce by Example
- 7 Inclusion Pays Off
- 8 8 Essential Traits of an Inclusive Workplace
- 9 Why won’t a top-down approach work?
- 10 The 8 components of an inclusive workplace
- 11 The results: What an inclusive work environment can do for your company
- 12 11 step approach to creating a more inclusive culture
- 12.1 Step 01: Get buy-in from the top
- 12.2 Step 02: Build psychological safety
- 12.3 Step 03: Get everyone on the same page
- 12.4 Step 04: Give everyone the practical tools to make changes
- 12.5 Step 05: Make inclusion inclusive
- 12.6 Step 06: Utilize existing D I champions
- 12.7 Step 07: Drive action
- 12.8 Step 08: Prompt reflection
- 12.9 Step 09: Praise positive behavior when you see it
- 12.10 Step 10: Measure it, test and adapt as you go
- 12.11 Step 11: Watch cascading culture change happen
- 13 Culturally inclusive environment
- 14 What does an inclusive workplace really mean for people with disabilities?
- 15 An inclusive culture assumes everyone is capable of doing a good job — regardless of disability
- 16 An inclusive culture provides equal access to growth opportunities
- 17 An inclusive culture rewards talent and hard work
- 18 An inclusive culture invites participation from people with disabilities
- 19 An inclusive culture communicates its disability inclusion initiative
- 20 An inclusive culture creates a pathway for people with disabilities to connect
- 21 An inclusive culture encourages ongoing conversations about disabilities
- 22 An inclusive culture recognizes that hiring employees with disabilities is good for business
What is an Inclusive Culture?
An inclusive culture is one that allows for the complete and successful integration of people from a variety of backgrounds into a workplace or sector. In spite of the fact that an inclusive culture includes a commitment to workplace diversity, it is not limited to simply basic representation; rather, it indicates a climate in which respect, equity, and positive recognition of differences are all cultivated, and in which the social and institutional response to disability does not pose any barriers to a positive employment experience.
They include both explicit and informal policies and procedures, as well as certain basic beliefs, which are as follows:
- Disability representation refers to the presence of persons with disabilities in a wide range of job positions, including leadership positions. Respect for diversity in working styles as well as flexibility in customizing roles to the skills and talents of employees are all examples of receptivity. The concept of fairness refers to the equitable distribution of all resources, opportunities, networks, and decision-making processes.
Disability representation refers to the presence of persons with disabilities in a wide range of job roles, including leadership ones. Respect for variations in working styles as well as flexibility in customizing roles to the skills and talents of employees are all characteristics of receptivity. The concept of fairness refers to the equitable distribution of all available resources, opportunities, networks, and decision-making procedures.
A publication of the Burton Blatt Institue of Syracuse University
Diversity and inclusion are hot themes on executive agendas, in the media, and on conference programs. Read on for more information. Executives are stressing the need for diverse teams and leadership, which has resulted in an increase in demand for positions in the “Diversity and Inclusion Lead” category. In fact, according to Indeed statistics, the demand for these positions has surged dramatically in recent years—between 2017 and 2018, the number of job posts for diversity and inclusion positions climbed by about 20%.
- What exactly is the culture of a company?
- When it comes to organizations, culture is the confluence of all of the objectives, beliefs, and behaviors that guide and support their workers as they operate individually, in groups, and with customers.
- A positive company culture should be committed to professional values, and it should support all employees, regardless of their backgrounds, genders, ethnicities, or sexual orientations.
- A robust, positive company culture will guarantee that all employees are aware of their significance to the corporation and that they are treated fairly.
- Creating a culture that is welcoming to all The following are the four stages to establishing inclusive environments in which all workers are heard, have the opportunity to achieve, and are actively engaged with leadership: 1.
- In order to enhance an organization’s culture, it is necessary to first have an awareness of the existing status of the culture.
- Participatory listening may take numerous shapes and forms, including assisted workshops, individual meetings, anonymous staff surveys, and the use of crowdsourcing.
- When hearing from employees, pay attention to people at all levels of the organization.
- Sessions should guarantee that everyone is heard and that their concerns are prioritized, regardless of their level of importance.
- When you’re listening, pay attention to what you’re hearing.
This stage is critical because, if not taken, employee engagement would suffer as a result of “all talk, no action.” Action may take many different shapes and forms. As an illustration:
- If organizational data indicates that people from certain demographics are not progressing or have a high attrition rate, look into ways to address this, such as dedicated sponsorship schemes, which pair those from underrepresented demographics with a senior leader to help them gain visibility, receive constructive feedback, and be given credit when appropriate. Review internal promotion processes to evaluate if they are effective for all employees and, if required, make modifications to improve them. If the culture encourages individuals to work long hours, top leaders should explore how to develop a more acceptable style of working that allows people to work flexibly while still meeting deadlines. Regularly extended working hours may be an indication of a project that is understaffed, and discussions will need to take place to ensure that work is divided evenly. If employees express a lack of a sense of belonging, consider what you can do to assist create a more welcoming workplace atmosphere. Employee resource groups have the ability to assist individuals in coming together, meeting like-minded individuals, and ultimately finding their place in their workplace. A good transformation in corporate culture may also be achieved by the formation of relationships with external groups that are devoted to recognizing, supporting, and promoting marginalized persons
3. Give a monetary value to all of the input For various people, a culture may mean many different things. The experience of belonging is unique to each individual. When deciding what to amplify or adjust, keep in mind that everyone’s input is equally as valuable as the next. As a result, input from executive-level employees is extremely valuable because these groups will have insight into senior-level decisions and will understand the business at this level; however, input from junior/mid-tier employees is equally valuable because it will provide a different lens into the organization’s culture.
- A truly inclusive and good workplace culture will provide support for both senior and junior staff, fostering a sense of belonging among all employees.
- Establish a two-way communication channel between leaders and all of their staff.
- A two-way channel of communication between executives and all staff is required to guarantee that the culture is consistently reinforced by welcoming diversity and modeling respectful behaviour.
- Be comfortable with being uncomfortable, with having your views challenged–remember that the common objective is to create an atmosphere that encourages, promotes, and hears all voices in order to achieve this.
- Embracing diversity and creating welcoming, inclusive environments is not just the right thing to do; it is also the morally right thing to do.
An inclusive organization is twice as likely as a non-inclusive organization to meet financial objectives, three times as likely as a non-inclusive organization to be high-performing, six times more likely to be flexible and inventive, and eight times more likely to generate superior economic results.
Why an Inclusive Workplace Culture is Important
The resignation letter came as a complete surprise. The leaving employee had only begun working for the company six months prior and brought with him the appropriate skill set for the role. They had earned a significant raise from their prior position, and no one had observed any symptoms of dissatisfaction on their part. While being questioned about their reasons for leaving at the departure interview, they responded, after some reluctance, with the following statement: “I don’t feel at home here, and I don’t think anyone truly knows who I am.” When pressed for more information, no information was provided.
An Inclusive Culture Enables a Diverse Workplace to Thrive
The term “Diversity and Inclusion” has been so widely used that it is easy to overlook the differences in meaning between the two words. According to a recent article in Gallup’s Workplacemagazine, the difference between diversity and inclusion is as follows: “Inclusion must be understood as distinct from diversity because simply having a diverse roster of demographic characteristics will not make a difference to an organization’s bottom line unless the people who fall into any particular demographic feel welcomed.” “Inclusion refers to a sense of belonging that is rooted in a person’s culture and surroundings.” Organizations that have successfully built a diverse workforce may gain the proven benefits that come with it, including a wide range of opinions and experiences from a diversified pool of employees and customers.
- However, apparently harmless behaviors that are ingrained in a company’s culture have the ability to make a part of its personnel feel unwelcome and alienated from the rest of the organization.
- For instance, consider the case of a technology start-up firm that was created by a group of college pals who all came from quite similar backgrounds.
- Because of the company’s quick growth and the fact that it hired a varied variety of talent, this practice has maintained.
- Here are a few examples of the reasons why these employees felt uneasy:
- Some employees felt that they had to choose between “being a member of the team” and their religious practices, which included limits on Saturdays and Sundays, because of the religious customs and restrictions they observed. It appeared as though those who were differently abled or unable to swim properly were excluded from the pool-side relay event. In order to participate in the “taste-test” portion of the barbecue competition, vegetarians would have to withdraw their participation.
The purpose of the business picnic was to foster collaboration and demonstrate gratitude, but it had the opposite impact on some of the employees who attended. Some felt that the date of the picnic and the activities held at it carried the message that “you and people who are like you do not truly belong here,” and that the picnic should be cancelled. When leadership became aware of the anguish that the picnic was causing some workers, they took the effort to reach out to each and every employee to solicit opinion on the timing of the picnic as well as the events that were held during the picnic.
This endeavor was a critical first step in building an atmosphere in which every employee felt included and appreciated — in other words, a culture of inclusion – for the organization.
Removing the “Identity Cover”
Many job interviews include the question, “Tell me about yourself,” which is asked at some point during the process. They will make an effort to answer with specifics about themselves that they believe the interviewer would find interesting. However, as the applicant mentally calculates what information to stress, they may simultaneously be considering what information to suppress in order to avoid being seen negatively by the interviewer. This strenuous mental activity might continue after a candidate is recruited, which is a good thing.
The Harvard Business Review reports that employees who are different from the majority of their coworkers on the basis of religion, gender, sexual orientation, socioeconomic background, and generation typically conceal crucial aspects of their identities at work for fear of repercussions.
Understanding who your workers are on a personal level is critical to inclusion.
Examples given in the article include a mother who is hesitant to display pictures of her children at work for fear that coworkers will question her commitment to her job; a Muslim who prays in his car for fear of encountering Islamophobia; and a gay executive who is hesitant to bring his same-sex partner to a company event for fear of being discriminated against.
The leaders of the digital start-up were completely unaware that they were alienating a significant portion of their workers by holding their corporate picnic.
This is especially true for those employees whose backgrounds and identities are unfamiliar to the majority of their coworkers. As a result, taking a proactive approach to adopting an inclusion program is a vital first step in building a welcoming atmosphere for everyone.
Every business is unique, which means that the content and structure of a new inclusion program must be tailored to the specific needs of your organization in order to succeed. The Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) presents an inclusiveness checklist for human resource management that is an excellent place to begin:
- Maintain communication with senior management to ensure that everyone’s voice is heard, perspectives are taken into consideration, and value to the team is clear. Managers should be trained – and held accountable – for demonstrating that inclusion is a fundamental ability. Form a true inclusion council with genuine influence and authority
- Respect for diversity and the creation of an environment where individuals may feel comfortable presenting their real selves to work are essential. Find out what the needs of underrepresented groups are, and provide them with the appropriate resources and assistance
- Provide employees with a secure environment in which to express their concerns
- Before implementing changes to enhance inclusion in your business, evaluate important areas of its culture and have a better understanding of the employee experience Keep in mind that the most revealing indicator of whether or not your firm has an inclusive culture is the everyday interactions of its employees.
Empowering the Workforce by Example
When Eric de los Santos, a scholarship student from Hawaii, first came to Brown University, he was struck by how different he felt from the other students. In his early years, he learned to appreciate the rich range of cultures that distinguishes Hawaii as a melting pot for immigrants and homosexual Filipino-Americans. His first impressions of individuals on the mainland were that they were protective about their traditions and identities when he arrived. The Filipino Students Alliance was founded in part as a result of his dedication to addressing and combating discrimination and prejudice.
- Soon after starting at the firm, he was asked on a work outing that included wives and significant others, which he accepted.
- Several of his coworkers commended him on his decision to be open about his connection with the guy who is now his spouse, and many of them thanked him for being honest about his feelings for him.
- In addition to serving as President of the National Filipino American Lawyers Association, de los Santos currently serves as Associate General Counsel and Senior Director of Employment Law at TrueBlue Insurance.
- “It is crucial not to believe that you are unable to be one’s true self because of another person’s predetermined judgement,” she remarked.
- If an individual is experiencing difficulties in their personal life and does not feel comfortable sharing those difficulties, that employee will feel alienated.
The responsibility of leaders is to provide an atmosphere where individuals can be themselves and to set an example with their own conduct, which demonstrates respect and a readiness to listen, and which clearly conveys the importance of every employee.
Inclusion Pays Off
While the justifications for creating an inclusive workplace culture sound convincing, how crucial is inclusion to the success of a company in terms of its bottom line? A report by Deloitte highlighted studies that revealed that firms with inclusive cultures have a distinct edge over those who do not have such cultures. The following are examples of organizations with inclusive cultures:
- More than twice as likely to surpass financial objectives
- Three times as likely to be high-performing
- Six times as likely to be inventive and flexible
- And eight times as likely to accomplish business results.
Building a culture of inclusiveness involves a strong commitment from the top of a company, as well as engagement from all levels of the organization’s hierarchy. It is possible that efforts to foster a culture of inclusion will result in enhanced employee retention, more dedication, and more input from the workforce. This will result in a substantial improvement in business outcomes, despite the problems that may arise along the road.
8 Essential Traits of an Inclusive Workplace
The majority of business executives feel that having an inclusive workplace is crucial. However, the definition of inclusiveness and the manner in which it is implemented differ significantly from one firm to the next. For some, it entails attracting and keeping a diverse group of personnel from various backgrounds. Others may find it necessary to conduct unconscious bias training sessions or establish employee resource groups. Some firms even devote an entire leadership role to the development of their employees.
- While these initiatives are excellent beginning points, a company seeking to really prioritize inclusion should cultivate a culture that welcomes and celebrates the diversity of ideas, opinions, experiences, and individuals in the workplace.
- The most important aspect of creating an inclusive workplace is ensuring that each person feels included, and this is precisely where many businesses lose their way.
- Leaders must also demonstrate that they really cherish the individuals who are the source of their ideas and experiences.
- It needs commitment and effort from all levels of the organization, not simply a directive from the C-suite.
Why won’t a top-down approach work?
Inclusion is centered on the day-to-day interactions that take place between employees, managers, leaders, teams, and their coworkers. To put it another way, real inclusive workplace practices rely on the backing of senior leaders as well as grassroots enthusiasm. It’s critical to understand the dynamics at play in your business if you want to make a significant difference and demonstrate a long-term commitment to your employees and an inclusive workplace.
Your dedication inspires others to do the same. Employees who feel involved are 43 percent more dedicated to their firms, according to a study conducted by the Limeade Institute and the Artemis Connection.
The 8 components of an inclusive workplace
Inclusion is a notion that has been developed. It comes to life thanks to your team. Before you can begin to promote inclusion in the workplace, you must first grasp the fundamentals of how individuals feel inclusion as well as the characteristics of an inclusive workplace. This set of eight building blocks serves as the foundation for inclusion at the individual and organizational levels:
1. Having a voice
The perception of having a “voice” increases the likelihood of employees sharing their ideas with their colleagues.
In order for an employee to have a sense of connection to their firm, they must first experience a sense of belonging – the sensation of being a member of an environment that recognizes and values them.
3. Sense of uniqueness
Employees want a sense of belonging and connection, but they also require a sense of being distinct among their peers, as well as a sense that their employer is interested in their specific abilities and experiences.
4. Feeling valued
The sense of worth and happiness that an employee has when they believe that their voice and unique self are valued is increased significantly.
5. Learning and development
Those employed by companies that provide learning and development opportunities are aware that their employers are interested in their ideas, goals, and progress.
6. Collaborative environment
Regardless of your position or department, a collaborative workplace may aid in the dismantling of silos and the promotion of inclusiveness across the whole business.
7. Access to resources
Employees benefit from resources such as manager assistance, diversity and affinity groups, and other initiatives that help them understand that their firm is invested in their well-being and success.
8. Strategic alignment
To achieve strategic alignment, businesses must explain why an inclusive workplace is vital in order for leaders, managers, and employees to be able to put plan into practice.
The results: What an inclusive work environment can do for your company
For most individuals, inclusion at work means having an excellent and gratifying experience (and beyond). Employees who feel involved, according to study conducted by the Limeade Institute and Artemis, include:
- People who are 28 percent more involved at work report having a 19 percent stronger sense of well-being in their lives. Employees that are 43 percent more dedicated to their firm Do they have a greater likelihood of recommending their firm as a wonderful place to work? Typically, employees aspire to remain with their firm for three times longer
In addition, for businesses, inclusion may mean a great deal. Workplaces that are inclusive:
- Those who foresee change and adapt well are six times more likely to succeed. There is an eight-fold increase in the likelihood of having overall better company outcomes
- On average, during a three-year period, had 2.3 times greater cash flow per employee
11 step approach to creating a more inclusive culture
Diversity and Inclusion are important concepts in today’s society. 10 minutes to read We are at our happiest and most productive when we are able to be ourselves, since we all want to be recognized and appreciated for who we are. Inclusive cultures welcome and promote our diversity — variances in life experiences, backgrounds, and ways of thinking – rather than ignoring or marginalizing them. Several studies have found that inclusive firms have more highly engaged, motivated, and productive workforces than other types of organizations.
Another research conducted by Deloitte in 2013 found that when employees “believe that their business is dedicated to and supportive of diversity, and they feel included,” their ability to innovate improves by 83 percent, according to the findings.
An inclusive society in which everyone is appreciated for their uniqueness and individuality as a human being has several advantages, including the following:
- When everyone on the team feels involved, team performance increases by 50 percent. The majority of the time, inclusive teams create superior business judgments (87 percent of the time)
- Decisions and actions taken by diverse teams produce results that are 60 percent better than those taken alone.
In spite of this, organizations are still working to cultivate an inclusive culture in the year 2020. Even in today’s environment, many of the world’s most innovative firms consider changing their culture to be a crucial goal. The findings of a 2014 worldwide survey conducted by Korn Ferry revealed that 72 percent of executives believe that organizational culture is highly essential for organizational effectiveness. However, one fact remains: most attempts at cultural transformation are doomed to failure.
Despite popular belief, even the longest trip begins with a single step forwards.
Aubrey Blanche, Global Head of Diversity and Belonging at Atlassian, perfectly captures our feelings: “So, how do you get started with a really transformational large-scale culture change initiative to create a more inclusive environment?” she asks.
Step 01: Get buy-in from the top
Despite the fact that the business case for D I is well-documented, many changemakers still struggle to gain support from senior executives. It is impossible to effect change if those at the top do not understand the behaviors that those at the bottom are being asked to adopt. To successfully implement culture change at a large scale, you must first gain support from the top. Senior executives can be won over by emphasizing benefits such as increased innovation, increased profitability, and faster time to market.
We can empower leaders to make small adjustments to the way they do things on a daily basis in order to intentionally include others.
Secondly, make certain that they set an example by raising awareness, encouraging conversation, and engaging in inclusive behaviors on a daily basis.
Step 02: Build psychological safety
Leaders must set an example of the conduct they wish to see in their teams and organizations in order to effect cultural change. Begin by fostering a culture of sharing, openness, and vulnerability. As soon as we accept our vulnerability with open arms, we may begin to form the connections that will lead to psychological safety. Bring out the best in your team by encouraging them to be their true selves at work. When they speak, actively listen to what they have to say and reply appropriately.
Mental safety is important because it leads to teams that are healthier, more productive, and more inclusive in their work.
In an environment of psychological safety, individuals will feel empowered to speak out and speak out in order to genuinely take action against discrimination.
IN CONNECTION WITH: Why psychological safety is a vital component of inclusion 4 best suggestions for increasing psychological safety in the workplace The perplexing contradiction between comfort and psychological safety
Step 03: Get everyone on the same page
Years of leadership development studies have shown that individuals at the top levels of an organization have the most effect on the rest of the business. But what about the hundreds or thousands of employees that work tirelessly to ensure that a company remains operational on a daily basis? Who are they and what is their effect on cultural change? Influence goes both ways, so making use of everyone’s viewpoints and bringing them together in a constructive way will significantly improve your ability to create, and it will be critical to achieving widespread cultural change.
Our client was interested in learning how a big cohort of mixed users from throughout their business would interact with and advance through a completely digital, mobile-first inclusion program in order to create cultural change rapidly and at scale, and we were tasked with answering this question.
- The workshop addressed a wide range of topics, including why diversity and inclusion are important, how to identify and respond to bias, how to create psychological safety within a team, and how to recruit diverse team members.
- It was the purpose of Inclusion Works to bring about a culture transformation by focusing participants’ attention on putting what they had learned into practice, namely, on developing inclusive daily habits.
- Two-thirds of members used our platform once a week to access inclusion material and participate with it, according to our data.
- Furthermore, when we first implemented the program, 82 percent of all sessions began with a notice from the system.
- These elements, taken together, demonstrated a significant shift in behavior — the consequence of the momentum acquired by putting everyone on the same page, encouraging communication and cooperation, and facilitating peer-led learning.
Every single participant said that they had altered their behavior and taken action against bias as a result of the program, demonstrating that they had taken responsibility of inclusion and created inclusive daily habits.
Step 04: Give everyone the practical tools to make changes
When it comes to actually creating a culture of inclusion, it is essential to provide employees with the practical tools they need to make changes and develop winning behaviors within the team. Your company’s culture is made up of the small behaviors that employees on your team develop on a daily basis. These can be in quite simple areas, such as the way you conduct meetings and provide feedback to participants. We’ve learnt a few important things throughout the years, including:
- For a culture of inclusion to genuinely take root, it is necessary to provide individuals with the tools they need to make changes and develop winning behaviors within the team. Small behaviors that employees in your team develop on a daily basis form the foundation of your company’s culture. These can be in quite simple areas, such as how you conduct meetings and provide feedback to participants. We’ve learnt a few important things throughout the years.
IN CONNECTION WITH: Your 2-Minute Guide to Providing Feedback The four essential elements of establishing a feedback culture There are three ways to de-bias your feedback. When you have an idea, make sure everyone hears it.
Step 05: Make inclusion inclusive
IN CONNECTION WITH THIS: Your 2-Minute Guide to Offering Feedback A feedback culture is built on four fundamental elements. How to debias your feedback in three simple steps When you come up with an idea, make sure everyone hears you.
Step 06: Utilize existing D I champions
Bringing together a team with a wide range of experiences and viewpoints, according to research, naturally fosters the development of new thinking ideas. This is supported by research from organizations like as Forbes, BCG, North Carolina State University, and Coqual (previously The Center for Talent Innovation). In order to disseminate the excitement across your varied team members and to take advantage of the first follower advantage, designate D I champions inside teams or business units with purposeful intent.
If you truly care about something, the most effective approach to start a movement is to boldly follow and demonstrate to others how to follow.
You may hand out freebies, encourage people to reflect on their own experiences, and offer assistance to anyone who is having a tough time.
Step 07: Drive action
Create concrete actions individuals can do and hold them accountable — to one another as well as through daily rituals and report-back procedures, for example. Reconstruct and adapt the physical environment in order to reflect and facilitate adoption of the new culture. If cooperation is the focus, redesign the workplace layout to encourage more collaboration and teamwork; if accessibility is the focus, provide funds to make the physical environment in the office more accessible to all of your employees.
Try any two of these facilitation strategies to achieve your intended effects, for example, if you are attempting to establish a culture of inclusive meeting dynamics in which everyone’s opinion is heard and respected:
- Enhance all voices from the beginning: Try Thompson’s “brainwriting” approach, which involves writing down everyone’s thoughts initially, or a simple open-ended introductory question to which everyone may add
- Challenge in a positive manner: Breaking up into pairs and discussing ideas, asking a younger colleague for their opinions, requesting disagreement, or experimenting with the “inversion” method are all effective ways to elicit ideas from even the most reserved colleagues. Control the discourse by stating the following: Reframe the conversation by restating what is on the agenda to keep it on track, reformulate to call out defeatist attitudes, and utilize nonverbal clues to elicit responses from others. Interruptions should be mitigated: Make an attempt to interject the interrupter and emphasize how important it is to hear from everyone in the meeting – and don’t be hesitant about doing so
Enhance all voices from the beginning: Try Thompson’s “brainwriting” approach, which involves writing down everyone’s thoughts initially, or a simple open-ended introductory topic to which everyone may respond. Constructive criticism is encouraged: Breaking up into pairs and discussing ideas, asking a younger colleague for their perspectives, eliciting disagreement, or using the “inversion” approach are all effective ways to elicit ideas from even the most reserved of colleagues. Control the discourse by stating the following points: Reframe the conversation by reiterating what is on the agenda to keep it on track, reformulate to call out defeatist attitudes, and utilize nonverbal clues to elicit responses from other participants.
Instead of being embarrassed about interrupting the interrupter, try to emphasize the importance of hearing from everyone present at the meeting.
Step 08: Prompt reflection
Inspire your employees to think about their actions, to be vulnerable, and to serve as role models for desired behaviors. Embracing your vulnerability begins with demonstrating that you do not need to believe in or portray a picture of yourself as being flawless. Building vulnerability is less difficult than you would believe, and it is a critical component of psychological safety. But, in a practical sense, how do you go about being honest and “human” in a meaningful way? Sending this message in the real world may be more actionable than you believe in the short term.
- Discuss your feelings, such as your overall mood or your reaction to duties and changes in the job, with your coworkers. And, certainly, when someone inquires, “How are you?” be forthright. Discuss the aspects of yourself that you would like to improve. Express yourself honestly. especially if you believe your opinions are unpopular
Ensure that your team members come to work as their complete, true selves. When they speak, actively listen to what they have to say and reply appropriately.
Step 09: Praise positive behavior when you see it
Positive reinforcement has been proven time and time again in psychological studies to be the most effective weapon in your arsenal for developing and maintaining desired behavior. Positive reinforcement and thankfulness, according to research, have the following effects:
- Is a highly effective ‘antidote’ to aggressive behavior in the workplace
- When faced with a stressful situation, it encourages creative flexibility by interfering with your tendency to fall back on prejudice and routine. It serves as a social glue, bringing individuals back together and putting our shared ideals into alignment
- Cultivate a culture in which you point out examples of people’s vulnerability, recognize their acts, and devise systems for showcasing their conduct, whether on your digital platform, at business all-hands meetings, team meetings, or other venues.
Suggestions for inclusion When expressing thanks or positive reinforcement, keep in mind that you should be culturally sensitive and context-aware. Some co-innovators may prefer a formal face-to-face display of gratitude, such as a handshake, rather than a written thank you note. The most uplifting email would be one in which they are thanked for how “fun” the conflict was and in which they are quoted the greatest sentence with a mic-drop GIF.
Step 10: Measure it, test and adapt as you go
It is critical to develop methods for measuring, testing, and documenting the effects of culture transformations. The use of measurement may demonstrate to workers that their organization’s emphasis on culture is not simply lip service, but rather a genuine attempt to change the culture. It’s critical not to get bogged down in the pursuit of the optimal statistic for assessing cultural transformation success. Instead, start with a tiny pilot and announce the favorable findings as soon as they are obtained.
Identifying and assessing the impact of a cultural revolution is a challenging task, but one that is extremely attainable.
In order to implement a scalable culture change program, it is necessary to assess culture, and the process of developing metrics and changing them as we go along is an important part of the whole journey.
Step 11: Watch cascading culture change happen
You must ensure that your commitment to the intended culture extends from senior executives all the way down to all people managers and workers throughout the business. All leaders must demonstrate their commitment to the culture by acting in ways that are compatible with the culture, rather than simply expressing their support for the culture verbally. As you begin to shift your business’s culture in the right direction, regular behaviors become part of your cultural landscape, and you’ll soon see your workers sharing their experiences and becoming a part of the culture of your firm.
- We think that being inclusive is a talent that can be acquired.
- Using an interactive learning experience, we want to guide participants on a path from unconscious bias to conscious action by instilling little but powerful daily habits of inclusion into their daily routines.
- We’ll equip you with the tools to talk about diversity and to talk about it every day.
- Schedule a demo of Inclusion Works now to learn more about the product.
- Included in Hive Learning’s Inclusion Works curriculum is a group-based peer learning program that is meant to produce enormous waves of change throughout your business.
- Learn More About Inclusion Works by visiting their website.
- Fiona formerly served as the Learning and Development Director for 3,000 employees at Blenheim Chalcot, Europe’s biggest venture capital firm.
- As Content Director at Hive Learning, Fiona was a pioneer in the development of the organization’s leading guided content programs, which are meant to help people put what they have learned into action.
Culturally inclusive environment
You must ensure that your commitment to the intended culture extends from senior executives all the way down to all people managers and workers throughout your firm. To demonstrate their commitment, all leaders must act in ways that are compatible with the culture, rather than simply expressing their support for the culture on the surface level. As you begin to shift your organization’s culture in the right direction, regular behaviors become part of your cultural landscape, and you’ll soon see your workers sharing their experiences and becoming a part of the culture of your company.
So we developed Inclusion Works from Hive Learning, a digital resource for fostering an inclusive culture in a variety of settings.
From understanding how to identify and prevent bias from influencing your decision-making to understanding how to hear all voices in meetings and distribute feedback fairly, we’ll equip you with the knowledge and tools to talk about diversity, and to talk about it on a daily basis, in your organization.
- Schedule a demo of Inclusion Works now to learn more about how it might benefit you.
- It is a group-based peer learning program from Hive Learning, and it has been developed to produce enormous waves of change across an organization’s culture.
- Inclusion Works provides further information.
- Fiona Young is referred to as “she” or “her.” Fiona formerly served as the Learning and Development Director for 3,000 employees at Blenheim Chalcot, Europe’s biggest venture capital firm.
- Since joining Hive Learning in 2010, Fiona has been at the forefront of developing the organization’s leading guided content programs, which are designed to help learners put their learning into action.
She was also responsible for the conception, development, and implementation of Inclusion Works by Hive Learning, the world’s first diversity and inclusion program focused on transforming unconscious prejudice into conscious action, which was developed from over 1,000 leading sources.
- To be themselves, with their own thoughts and points of view
- To actively engage in teaching, learning, work, and social activities
- To feel protected from abuse, harassment, or harsh criticism
- To be themselves in all aspects of their lives.
A university that is culturally inclusive means the following:
- Specifically, individual students can participate fully in classes, strive to study better, strive to achieve better academic results, experience less stress, and have improved career prospects
- All staff can interact more fully with other staff and students, as well as extend and develop their own cultural awareness
- The university as an organization benefits from having a culturally diverse staff and students because they are exposed to a variety of ideas and life experiences.
In order to create an atmosphere where diversity is really respected, equity must be integrated into the core business of each working area within the university’s administrative structure. The policies that tell us what to do and what not to do are sometimes referred to as ‘lip service,’ meaning that they are in place to meet a legal need but are seldom put into action. It is necessary to move the emphasis away from the notion of equality as a ‘add-on’ policy and toward an active and positive valuing of diversity in all that we do in order to put such policies into effect.
The term “cultural diversity” is frequently used in conjunction with the term “ethnicity.” However, the phrase should be taken in a larger perspective in which it acknowledges the distinct characteristics of all individuals. Cultural Diversity and Inclusive Practice (CDIP) Toolkit will first focus on the ethnic, religious, and language components of cultural diversity, with a view to expanding its scope. Despite the prevalence of the term ‘race’ in everyday language, as well as its use in various policies and statements referred to throughout this toolkit, the new Macquarie ABC Dictionary states that: Because the 19th century classification of humans into distinct races has been challenged scientifically, as well as being misused, many now prefer to avoid using this term when referring to a group of humans, and to replace it with another term such as ‘peoples’ or ‘community.'”
At the University of Southern California, we define inclusive practice as the application of interactive tactics that recognize and appreciate cultural diversity. The benefits of culturally inclusive practice may be felt by students and faculty alike, who can see diversity as a resource that can be used to enhance our teaching and learning, research, service provision, and other areas of work. If we do not engage in inclusive behaviors, some people will feel marginalized, alienated, and discouraged as a result of this.
The use of inclusive practices allows all students and faculty to get the most possible academic, personal, and social value from their time at USC.
Enhancing cultural inclusiveness
The practice of inclusion is ever-changing. Cultural inclusion addresses and supports the needs of persons from a variety of cultural backgrounds, and it recognizes and honors each individual’s unique contribution. It entails continuing public awareness-raising efforts, as well as talks and compromise when necessary. At the same time, persons from a variety of cultural backgrounds must be assisted in understanding the academic, administrative, and social cultures of the University. Most importantly, it is critical to view cross-cultural contacts as a chance for all of us to learn from one another.
Consider what you find unusual, or maybe distasteful, in people’s behaviors, attitudes, and expectations. This is an excellent starting point for thinking about culture — your own and others’ — as you observe them.
Tolerance is not enough when it comes to valuing variety. The phrase ‘tolerance’ refers to something that must be endured or ‘put up with’ — for example, the unpleasant side effects of a drug. Respectful relationships are formed when real awareness, admiration, and interest in diversity are experienced by all parties involved. Beyond preventing disrespectful behaviors from occurring, maintaining respectful relationships requires exhibiting positive appreciation for other individuals and their cultural values.
If we consider Indigenous Australians, for example, this entails acknowledging and honoring their history of Australia, which provides an alternative viewpoint to that of the majority population.
Download the Culturally Inclusive Environment Information Folio (in PDF format) (PDF 508KB) In order to view PDF documents, you must have the free Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your computer, which can be obtained from the Adobe Download page.
What does an inclusive workplace really mean for people with disabilities?
An inclusive workplace is one in which individuals with a wide range of differences and impairments feel welcomed and appreciated for their contributions to the organization. In this workplace, persons with disabilities — both visible and invisible — have the same possibilities for progression as their co-workers and may achieve the same levels of success. It’s also a location where people may feel comfortable admitting impairments that aren’t readily apparent. According to James Emmett, a disability inclusion specialist and senior workplace strategist at Understood, the following are recommended practices that can help you create a more inclusive workplace.
An inclusive culture assumes everyone is capable of doing a good job — regardless of disability
As with any hiring attempt, the goal of disability inclusion is to match the best candidate with the most appropriate position. Furthermore, once persons with disabilities are hired, it is critical that such employees be treated as though they had the fundamental skills required to perform the job. As Emmett advises, “hold your employees with impairments to the same standards as the rest of your workforce.” “Don’t be scared to be straight with them and to provide them with clear and honest feedback,” says the author.
The development of employees with disabilities will be facilitated by this management style, which will raise their worth to the firm and provide them with opportunities for future progress.
An inclusive culture provides equal access to growth opportunities
The same as any other employee, employees with impairments desire chances for professional growth. Among the opportunities are participation in conferences and training sessions, as well as sponsorship of mentoring programs.
If your firm provides tuition reimbursement, make sure that your employees are aware of it. Additionally, if employees’ participation in these activities necessitates the provision of accommodations, make every effort to arrange ahead of time.
An inclusive culture rewards talent and hard work
Employees with disabilities who are given the opportunity to develop new skills and grow in their careers benefit everyone. Emmett uses the example of a deaf employee to illustrate his point. Despite the fact that he would be overseeing hearing colleagues who did not understand sign language, he was offered a promotion to a team leadership role. “That may have been a stumbling block,” Emmett speculates. “On the contrary, his supervisor was dedicated to finding a method to make it work.” They provided texting gadgets as well as pads of paper to its staff.
An inclusive culture invites participation from people with disabilities
Managers and coworkers should make it apparent that they value and appreciate the ideas and contributions of colleagues who have physical or mental limitations. According to Emmett, “ensure that your employees with disabilities have a voice at staff meetings and throughout team discussions.” A welcoming environment ensures that employees with disabilities participate in the kinds of casual work contacts — such as birthday parties and coworker lunches — that foster friendships and a sense of belonging among their coworkers.
An inclusive culture communicates its disability inclusion initiative
For a business to be truly inclusive of employees with disabilities, “it is critical that all employees are aware of your disability effort,” says Emmett. “It is also critical that all employees understand your disability initiative.” Companies should be “proud and vocal” about their efforts. Here are some examples of how your organization may accomplish this:
- Inform your staff that you are working to become a more disability-friendly employer. Inquire with them about if they are aware of any qualified people with disabilities who would be suitable for positions at the organization. Provide information about the disability community’s demographics. For example, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one in every four American adults has a handicap of some kind or another. There are an additional 61 million adults in the United States who are disabled
- Make a connection between the program and the company’s objective. Make a connection between disability inclusion messaging and your commitment to diversity, for example.
Employees must be made aware of your project, and they must also be educated on disabilities, among other things. In practice, this means that “the disability consultant or project manager in charge of the company’s disability project is checking in with supervisors and employees and following up to ensure that everyone is doing well after the training,” according to Emmett.
An inclusive culture creates a pathway for people with disabilities to connect
The existence of an employee resource group (ERG) or a business resource group (BRG) specifically dedicated to distinct diversity groups is common in bigger corporations. Inclusion of persons with disabilities within ERGs allows them to share their experiences, organize activities, and raise awareness about topics that are important to them. Members of the ERG may approach leadership to suggest ways in which the interviewing process for individuals with disabilities may be made more accessible to them.
The ERG can also include supporters who do not themselves have a disability, but who have an interest in or personal experience with disabilities and want to help.
An inclusive culture encourages ongoing conversations about disabilities
Creating a connection between company executives and employees with disabilities has the potential to be quite effective in starting such a discourse. They might request to speak with workers who have reported a handicap in order to learn about their opinions of the firm and their own personal experiences. (Participation, of course, must be entirely voluntary.) Also possible are leaders who have impairments that haven’t been reported to the public. As a leader, one method to foster an inclusive culture is for him or her to come out and admit that they have a learning handicap.
The fact that I have dyslexia has been a part of my journey. ‘I’d want to hear how your adventure has been thus far.” It is important to create an environment where individuals feel comfortable admitting their disability since this is a key signal of an inclusive culture.
An inclusive culture recognizes that hiring employees with disabilities is good for business
“Working with individuals who have impairments is just part of the usual way of doing business,” says Emmett, who describes his workplace as one that is inclusive of everyone. There is compelling evidence that an inclusive workplace culture has a favorable impact on the bottom line and the values of a firm. Companies that follow best practices for employing and supporting individuals with disabilities outperform their colleagues, according to a 2018 research conducted by Accenture. These enterprises generated, on average, 28 percent greater revenue, double the net income, and 30 percent larger economic profit margins than their competitors.
Check out our Quick Start Guide to see how you can establish a culture that recognizes and celebrates the capabilities of persons with disabilities while also providing them with opportunity to flourish.