Hey there, everyone! Or here, and today I want to talk about something that's crucial for any workspace: inclusion. Today, we're going to explore why inclusion in the workplace matters and how we can cultivate a culture of diversity and belonging.
Inclusion in the workspace goes beyond just hiring a diverse workforce, although it is a great first step, it's about creating an environment where everyone feels valued, respected, and empowered to bring their authentic selves to work.
This is an aside, but a cool hiring practice I came across was that if a company or organization wants to bring in different voices or experiences into their team, they will keep the job posting open until a certain percentage of applications fit this role. This does not mean that they will necessarily get the job, but at least you increase the chances of diversifying the group.
When employees feel included, they're more engaged, innovative, and committed to the success of the organization. My partner recently received some benefit from her work place that she and other advocated for. The details are not really important, what's important is that once management said they will have this, the first thing she said was “I feel so valued, it makes me want to work there even more”. True quote.
So, why does inclusion matter in the workspace? For starters, it fosters a feeling of belonging by bringing together people with different perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences. It also enhances employee morale and retention, leading to higher productivity and performance. Not to make this all about productivity. But imagine if people were less concerned with hiding themselves and instead have the bandwidth to take on more at work.
So, how can we promote inclusion in the workspace? It starts with leadership commitment and accountability. Leaders need to set the tone from the top and actively work towards creating a culture of inclusion. I can't state that enough, when management says something is important, and actually follows it, it shows throughout all the organization.
Of course, inclusion is everyone's responsibility. Employees at all levels can play a role in promoting inclusion by actively listening to diverse perspectives, challenging stereotypes and biases, and advocating for inclusive practices.
If you are not sure where to begin, start small. Ask yourself who don't I have on my team? Someone who is an immigrant? Disabled? Of a different religion? Different gender? Once you recognize that, seek these voices out.
By embracing inclusion in the workplace, we can create a more diverse, equitable, and welcoming environment where everyone has the opportunity to thrive. I would like to live in a world like that. Wouldn't you?
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