Diversity, Equity & Inclusion in the workplace (and life)
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) is a hot topic in the workplace. What we have to understand before we can embrace anything else in this blog is that we have all walked through different doors to get where we are. We all have a different lens that we see life through. Once we understand this, we can appreciate its importance and fully experience the benefits of having each other. So what are the benefits of DEI? What challenges does it present? And how can we create a culture of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in our organizations? Here's what you need to know:
The Benefits:
DEI that is embedded in your culture can help you attract top talent—and retain it! By creating an environment where employees feel like they're valued, you can attract top talent from all walks of life. This will help you keep your workforce fresh, innovative, and happy (which is good for business).
It helps make your workplace more inclusive. When people feel they belong at work because they see themselves reflected in the company's values and mission, they're more likely to stay—and work hard for the team.
Diversity can help companies innovate more quickly by bringing new perspectives to problem solving.
The Challenges:
Lack of resources and education on what effective DEI looks like in the workplace or in general. It isn’t just changing your company logo to rainbow colors for Pride month.
Attracting the right team when your workplace has not been inclusive historically. What can be changed or promoted to get more diverse employees? Change always brings resistance.
Leadership Support- if the people at the top aren’t on board, it creates a barrier to progress.
The challenges of diversity and inclusion are real, but we're here to tell you that they're also surmountable. Here's how to create a culture of diversity, equity and inclusion in your workplace:
1. Talk about it
First things first: talk about it! Encourage open dialogue about what diversity means and why it matters. Make sure everyone on your team feels comfortable talking about their experiences with diversity and inclusion, whether they've had positive or negative experiences with them in the past.
2. Be inclusive
When hiring new employees, look for people who can bring diverse perspectives into your company's goals and objectives—and not just because it's good for business! Make sure everyone is represented in your leadership team so that no one gets left out of the conversation. Also take a look at your marketing strategy. Can people see themselves working at your business? Is diversity reflected on your website or social media campaigns?
3. Create an environment where people feel comfortable asking questions
Whether you're hiring new employees or simply trying to improve diversity within an existing team, make sure everyone knows they can feel comfortable asking questions if there's something they don't understand. It might seem like a small thing at first glance, but fostering a culture where people feel safe asking questions will go a long way toward making everyone feel included and valued within the company as a whole!
And being valued is basic human need. I think we can do better! Don’t you?









