It can be easy to take sides or voice our opinions one way or another in a world that encourages constant debate. But at the end of the day, many of us want the same things. We want to be inclusive and supportive. We want to push others to succeed. We want to provide individuals with the resources to be the best versions of themselves. We all just want to belong to the spaces we inhabit and make the most of the opportunities we’re given.
I grew up in a town that was known for being diverse. In high school, my friends and classmates fell into groups and identities much different from my own. We had classroom discussions that aimed to challenge privilege and better support students who didn’t fall into majority groups. Soon after I moved to college, I realized not everyone had the same high school experience. While my college does a good job of creating inclusive spaces, encouraging conversation, and advocating for minority groups, celebrating diversity outside of classrooms and college campuses is just as important.
Diversity, equity, and inclusion conversations are happening all around us, and are essential in the workplace too. If we can create businesses and companies where all people feel seen, heard, and valued, our employees will be more excited about the work they do, teams will work together better, and we may learn something new about ourselves and others.
So, how can we make a personal or individual difference? How do we actually encourage diversity, equity, and inclusion so everyone can have a better workday? First, let’s take a look at what diversity, equity, and inclusion is.
Diversity: Diversity is about who we are. We are all different people, who believe different things, and act in different ways. When we feel sound in our identities, we’re happier and we perform better, and when we combine our diverse ideas, we benefit our organizations.
Equity: Equity recognizes that some people have privileges that others don’t. When we work to implement equity in our workplaces, we make plans and put systems into action that provide everyone with equal opportunity.
Inclusion: Inclusion makes sure everyone feels like they bring value to the table. When we feel included in our organizations, we feel empowered and encouraged to get involved in other areas in our lives.
With these definitions in mind, here are some ways we can get even better at incorporating diversity, equity, and inclusion into our daily workplace lives.
Research and Ask Questions
When we take the time to intentionally research things we have questions about or don’t understand, we show others that we care about creating diverse, equitable, and inclusive environments. Along with research comes asking questions to better understand personal experiences. We learn a lot about what our employees want or need to succeed when we take the time to ask them.
Alec Bailon’s article lists some of the essential DEI topics to pay attention to, and we’ve got some great resources of our own if you’re looking to learn more! Here are some areas he calls attention to:
- Microaggressions
- Sexual Orientation vs. Gender Identity
- Racism
- Disability Awareness
- Generational Diversity
- Unconscious Bias
Celebrate Diversity
There is diversity all around us. In fact, diversity makes us better which is why it’s important to see and recognize the unique differences each individual brings to a team by celebrating diversity year round. This year-long celebration helps everyone feel like they have a place on our team, that their voice matters, and that they’re a part of something bigger than themselves.
Be Willing to Get Out of Your Comfort Zones
We can ensure that everyone feels valued by taking steps towards ending workplace discrimination and making our organizations more equitable. To do this, we have to get out of our comfort zones. We have to ask difficult questions in a curious and empathetic way. We aren’t doing this to make ourselves feel better, but to make the lives of the people we work with, live with, and interact with better.
If you’re looking for more ways to learn or get out of your comfort zone, our partner Paula Bell talked with us about getting comfortable being uncomfortable in an episode of The Even Better podcast, which you can listen to here, or consider taking her Intercultural Competence Inventory Assessment!
It’s not easy to ask questions and put ourselves to the side in the interest of others, but we have to start somewhere. When I think back to my own life, there have been plenty of times when I wish I had done something to be more inclusive or stood stronger against discrimination. It comes with challenges and difficulties, but the end results are worth it. Everyone deserves to belong to something, but it’s up to us to acknowledge the times we aren’t inclusive and continue to do better.
When we implement practices and routines in the interest of others, we also look to the good of the organization. Our organizations benefit greatly from diversity, equity, and inclusion and as a result, our teams work better too. The good of the organization is even one of the core tenets of Your Clear Next Step’s Change Makers Certification Program! If you’re interested in more information, check out our resource page.
