Diversity ≠ Inclusion
Leaders don’t just need to act unbiased; they need to appear unbiased as well.
No amount of jargon about diveristy and inclusion will ever lead to anything good unless we’re prepared to see through our own behaviors.
Modern workspace is a melting pot of diverse cultures.
Leadership cannot generate sustainable organizational value unless they see diversity as an asset and walk the talk by example.
Leaders not only need to educate themselves to be able to acknknowledge their biases but need the self-awareness to recognize when their appearances may deliver the wrong messaging as well.
Going out drinking or lunching regularly in cliques or staying close to your "inner circle" at office parties are typical poor appearances that never go unnoticed.
We’re all guilty of it. It’s comfortable to hang out with those you share a cultural background with.
But for leaders, optics matter.
Here are 5 ideas that have helped me stay on course:
1️⃣ Be mindful that people follow different sports, don’t have to share your tastes for music, movies, may have dietary restrictions etc. Recognizing diversity is the first step.
2️⃣ Show curiosity to learn about your people, their culture, where they come from. Show them you care. Make them feel they belong.
3️⃣ Find topics of common interest. Focus on what unites us, not what divides us.
4️⃣ Encourage diverse opinions, perspectives in team conversations. Be a good listener. Be prepared to be challenged by alternative views.
5️⃣ When making decisions, really slow down. Dissect your thinking. Ask yourself, “Am I making my decision based on pure facts or am I influenced by my opinion about someone who may not look like me, talk like me or think like me???” This to me is a really important question to ask. I’ll often go seek outside help to cross-check my thinking.
As a leader, you are the glue that holds your diverse work force together.
D&I is not about some specific group. It’s about the idea that everyone in an organization is unique and gets equal opportunity irrespecrive of their race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, gender etc.
