Now, more than ever before, it is important to focus on diversity in the workplace. While you might own a company that is somewhat diverse, you have to be sure that you are creating an environment that is inclusive. When your employees feel welcome, it means that they are more likely going to bring their all to the table. To get the most from your employees, it can be beneficial to focus on inclusion in the workplace and how you can improve in this area. Here are a few simple points to keep in mind when you are focusing on this task.
Listen to the Professionals
Diversity and inclusion are not new concepts. There have been many brave men and women over the years who have taken to the public sphere in order to help to promote a world in which all are treated as equals. When you are looking to expand your views, there are few better ways than by listening to the advice of these individuals who have championed change. Since you are going to be thinking about inclusion in the workplace, you will want to focus your efforts on the people in the world of business that have discussed diversity.
One great example is Luke Visconti. For years, Visconti has written about the importance of diversity and inclusion in the workplace. He focuses on how businesses do not seem to understand that doing the right thing is the best way to see more positive results. There is an untapped market to be found in diversity, which means that you can easily benefit by making the choice to do what is right. Explore what others have had to say on this topic and you will begin to find that you are understanding how to improve the way your company handles inclusion.
Take Time to Learn
If you are the one in charge around the office, then you are going to set the example for how others act. If you make a concerted effort to learn about your employees, it will cultivate an environment where people feel comfortable talking about their backgrounds. You do not want our employees to feel as if they cannot bring their histories and personal experiences to the table. When employees feel as if they are able to open up about their lives, they will understand that you care about their well-being. This interest will wind up helping you to see increased productivity.
An excellent way to go about doing this is by offering up suggestions for activities outside of work. Grabbing drinks with members of the team or going to a nice lunch can be great ways to learn a bit more about the lives of those who work for you. When you do this, it bridges the gap between work and play. While you do not want to completely give up the pretense of the workplace hierarchy, a bit of relaxation and familiarity can go a long way to help to improve inclusion in the workplace.
Avoid Assumptions
One of the biggest ways to see failure in regards to inclusion is by making assumptions. If you hire on a new member of your team, and you are unsure of what race the person might be, you do not want to make any assumptions. Not only does it make the encounter awkward, it also should not matter whether or not you know the exact race of the person you have hired. You will be able to learn about the person’s life in other ways. Until then, avoid assumptions altogether.
This also goes for members of the LGBTQA community. Making the assumption that everyone is heterosexual will create an uncomfortable divide that will make your employees feel as if they cannot divulge in their personal lives. Matters of sexuality and gender identity are often extremely sensitive. Making false assumptions, even ones that might seem harmless at the time, can result in some terrible results. You do not want to alienate your employees, so you have to find ways to show caution and tact. Do not avoid these topics altogether, either. Instead, just make conversation and listen to what someone has to say without forcing the issue.
A Well-Rounded Workplace
People are all different. The beauty of the human race is that each and every person has a unique perspective to bring to the table. When you are able to take the time to actually learn about the people who work for you, it will do wonders for how business is conducted around the office. Be careful in the way that you approach these topics. Avoid assumptions at all costs and make sure that you learn about people in a natural and organic way. Listen to what experts like Luke Visconti have to say about inclusion in order to make more informed decisions for your company. Following these bits of knowledge will allow you the inspiration that you need to move forward with diversifying your workplace and creating an environment where everyone feels welcomed.
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