An inclusive workplace is where everyone feels valued, trusted, respected, and accepted.
At its core, an inclusive workplace creates a space where people from all backgrounds (age, ethnicity, abilities, etc.) can feel comfortable expressing experiences and ideas.
We can take simple steps to foster more inclusion at our workplaces. Below are four ways to build a more inclusive work environment:
Make space for others to share their perspectives.
Inclusivity creates a workplace where everyone feels valued, trusted, respected, and accepted. It’s not just a policy mandate; it’s an overall culture shift that requires leaders to intentionally include people from all walks of life in the conversation.
To create an inclusive workplace, share your values of inclusiveness with others and encourage them to do the same. Take time during work hours for employees to share their experiences as well so everyone can benefit from hearing different perspectives. Remaining transparent and creating space for employees is one of the best ways to begin the conversation of inclusivity.
Understand the perspectives of others.
The first step to creating an inclusive workplace is to understand the perspectives of others. Get started by conversing with your team about what inclusivity means to them. Do they see it as something important for their workplace? What do they think it looks like in practice?
Asking questions and getting answers from employees will help guide conversations in a direction that may lead to greater understanding for both parties involved. With these questions you can begin to uncover areas that need improvement, either in your hiring processes or with the way management is run in your workplace.
Be Willing to Reward Talent and Hard Work.
One of the ways to be sure you are an inclusive company is to be willing to reward those who work hard without any alternative motive. That means that people will know promotion, raises, and praise will be based on their work, not who they are. It takes the fear of office politics out of employees’ minds and lets them know that hard work is the only measure of reward.
Take the initiative to create change.
Be open to feedback from your team and regularly seek it out. Change won’t happen unless we are brave enough to step out of our comfort zone and be leaders who initiate change to have a more inclusive work environment. This change can look like being willing to ask the right questions, being open to feedback, and beginning to understand others’ perspectives.
You can consider these steps to make your workplace more inclusive!
We know that these changes can seem intimidating. But remember that inclusivity is not just a trend or a buzzword—it’s essential to our actions and who we are as humans.