Diversity in leadership is incredibly important for a variety of reasons. A diverse group of people can help the company learn and grow when bringing together different worldviews, bring in a different perspective when trying to innovate, and can make people feel more included, bringing up the morale of the company. However, if you don’t already have a diverse leadership team, you may be stuck trying to figure out how to get there. In this blog, we’ll talk about steps you can take to help promote diversity in your organization.
Consider all aspects of diversity
When people think of diversity, a couple of things come to mind: race, ethnicity, and gender are normally the first things people think of. However, did you know that there are other aspects of diversity? A few of these include:
- Age
- Disability status
- Education
- Skillsets
- Sexual orientation
- Religion
However, these can mean a couple of different things to the companies you work at based on the factors such as:
- The industry you work in
- The business you have
- The markets you work with
- Your workforce
- The talent that you have with you
- The culture and values of your organization
By defining what diversity means to you, you can create an attainable goal so that you can reach your target.
Bring in diversity implementation experts
When you want to start diversifying your workforce, you are going to want to give yourself the best head start possible. Consulting with experts can help you on this front.
Professionals specializing in diversity and inclusivity understand the ins and outs of the workplace changes that need to be made. They have the resources, sensitivity, and knowledge to help your company navigate the changes. DE&I experts have the skills necessary to help your organization understand and comply with all applicable diversity laws while keeping anti-discrimination laws in mind. For this reason, you may also consider hiring a permanent DE&I professional.
Be a leader in the shift of the culture
Once you’ve committed to diversifying your company culture, you have to commit to speaking the language of diversity, partnership, and inclusion. This means that, however, your company values diversity, you should use the language frequently, putting it in everything you do– from the website to marketing, even in your meetings and trainings. This reinforces the message you’re putting out there to your internal and external stakeholders.
Diverse leadership can be a great asset to your organization. It adds new perspectives, enhances the culture and the brand, and can lead to a thriving company. It takes a lot of work and requires commitment, planning, and learning, but it has an incredible payoff if done right.