There’s Never Been a Better Time Than NOW.
In light of recent events in this country, it’s never been more important to educate your team members on diversity awareness than right now. Your organization will benefit from creating a culture of inclusion, creating diverse teams, and implementing ongoing education on the subject. Below are some suggestions you can follow:
Training, Training, Training
We can’t say it enough times – training is the key to employees understanding just how important diversity truly is. Diversity training efforts should be mandatory, even as a performance expectation goal each year.
Leadership Needs to Have Diversity
Leadership diversity is imperative. Gender, sexual orientation, nationality, whatever it may be. If top management isn’t promoting diversity, the company may suffer because employees won’t buy in to what you’re preaching. Not only will employees appreciate it, but having those different backgrounds and experiences will naturally lead to more creative solutions.
Encourage the Open Door Policy
Management should welcome dialogue from their employees at all times – whether in person or online, encourage employees to ask questions and report anything they may be uncomfortable with.
Reinforce Values Daily
Employees are watching. They’re taking note of how leadership runs the company. It’s great to have training but without regular reminders, you might as well throw the training out the window. Companies need to live and breathe the diversity values. Regularly communicate and instill the company values in them.
Inclusion is Imperative
Inclusion is the name of the game. Everyone needs to feel welcome. If you currently don’t have a very diverse staff, employees may view this as an unconscious bias on your part. Be sure you and the employees you do have are welcoming to someone walking in the door that’s “not like them.”
Evaluate Any Issues Before Hiring
By evaluating racial bias or discrimination during the interview, you will limit potential issues and possibly limit legal risks. Let it be known that your company has a zero tolerance of racial, gender, and sexual orientation bias.
Every Employee Should Feel Valued
No matter who the employee is, it’s up to management to make everyone feel equal and important. This conveys the message to everyone in the organization that every person is valued.
Company Values Are Your Lifeline
Every communication, decision, interaction and project should be guided through the values of the company. Values should be a sign of how you work and interact with each other.
For more practical articles and resources on helping you with today’s issues, visit CareerStart.com.
