5 Tips For Leading a Diverse and Inclusive Workforce

Whether you’re leading your first meeting or closing your first million-dollar deal, getting the most out of people who work with you and around you makes the difference between a successful company and one that doesn’t quite meet expectations.

But how can you inclusively lead diversity? Here are five tips to help you do just that.

1. Hire People from Diverse Backgrounds

It probably goes without saying, but hiring people from diverse backgrounds is an important key to building a diverse and inclusive workforce. It shows that you’re committed to diversity and inclusivity and that you’ve got a group of people working together with different backgrounds, ideas, and perspectives.

It’s important not to let biases like “everyone looks like me” or “we always hire from Ivy League schools” stop you from hiring people with different educational and cultural backgrounds. The more diverse your team is, the more they’ll be able to bring different approaches and insights to bear on solving problems or developing products.

2. Encourage Employees To Interact

Different personalities, backgrounds, and points of view come together in a diverse workforce, making it even more important to encourage employee interaction. Here are five tips for how to do just that: 

• Introduce yourself when you meet someone new. Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there! 
• Keep an open mind: we all have different thoughts and ideas on specific topics, so take the time to listen to others’ viewpoints before you judge them.
• Ask questions. One simple question can go a long way in building relationships with coworkers.
• Attend office events outside your department. This will help break down barriers by forcing you to interact with people who might not be part of your everyday routine and give everyone a chance to see what others do for their job.
• Find other ways to socialize and work. Sometimes, a fun night out or game night is enough to help break down walls between coworkers who otherwise may never interact.

3. Celebrate Diversity 

The first step to building a diverse, inclusive workforce is to be intentional about the type of people you want to work with. This can include different ethnicities, cultures, religious beliefs, sexual orientations, and gender identities.

The second step is hiring people who represent your company’s values and will thrive in your environment. Lastly, once you’ve found good candidates, it’s important to celebrate diversity by being aware of how it affects your business and the world as a whole.

4. Improve Communication Between Different Groups 

To have a successful team, fostering an environment where all members have access to relationships is critical. One way you can do this is by formalizing a mentoring program to ensure participants have the space to build a relationship.

In addition, helping to foster communication can be accomplished through the following activities: 

• Encouraging open dialogue in regular meetings
• Creating inclusive events
• Addressing  microaggressions when they happen

5. Lead By Example

One of the most important ways to lead an inclusive workforce is by example. It’s all about living your values and upholding the same standards for everyone.

If you want your employees to be more inclusive, you must show them how. Offering support and encouragement can go a long way in promoting diversity.

Promote Positivity: When discussing inclusion, it isn’t always just about people with diverse backgrounds; anyone can sometimes feel excluded. Create an environment where positivity is fostered so that no one feels left out or intimidated because they have a different point of view.

Final Thoughts 

In today’s world, organizations that don’t respect, promote, and celebrate diversity are falling behind. It’s no longer enough to adhere to the letter of the law regarding equal opportunity in the workplace—companies need to go above and beyond this minimum standard if they want to attract and retain top talent.

In addition, as society becomes more diverse, companies need to ensure that their culture reflects this change to remain relevant and successful. If your company needs help in any of these areas, consider these five ways to make your company more diverse and inclusive today!

Engage Mentoring is committed to helping organizations grow inclusive cultures of diverse talent by leveraging technology that provides access to meaningful relationships. Our unique company provides innovative, scalable, and agile solutions for organizations globally. Our team of experienced professionals provides training, mentoring, coaching, and consulting services to help organizations create new opportunities for growth. We work with top-tier clients who are ready to take their organization’s culture to the next level—a level where employees are engaged and fulfilled on every level. So if you want your employees to feel valued and respected, please reach out so we can schedule an introductory call!