A Dynamic Approach to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) for Leaders

It is impossible to ignore the clanging bells and alarms around racial inequity and distress that the past year has pulled front and center in all of our lives. The disparities and issues around race and equity are nothing new and can in no way be simplified.  In response, companies, organizations, and institutions are becoming increasingly more aware of the need to develop a specific stance and plan for addressing diversity, equity, inclusion, and anti-racist policies in the workplace. The needs for increased dialogue, thought, and action are abundantly clear if leaders, managers, and employees are to go beyond the basic intellectual understanding of DEI work.

As a leader, it is imperative to investigate and be open about how your work environment measures up when it comes to addressing these topics. Building an inclusive and equitable space for all not only makes your company more progressive and therefore a standout in the industry, it is essential for retaining talent of diverse backgrounds and widens your opportunities for attracting more clientele and servicing their needs. Not only this, but being intentional about anti-racist and equitable policies enriches the experiences of all stakeholders by creating a culture where all employees feel supported and can thrive.

In Dr. Tiffany Jana and Michael Baran’s book Subtle Acts of Exclusion, they encourage all people in relation to each other to embrace “intentional acts of inclusion”. They ask that we all consider,  “the colleagues whose diversity we [can and] can’t see but on whom we rely for peaceful, productive workdays and collaborative solutions; the clients whose values are more inclusive than our own and whose business we need to survive.”

There are a multitude of entry points to intentionally creating an equitable and inclusive space for all. Here is a scaffolding that may prove successful for the work of your organization and team.

Identify how you and your team will go beyond your company’s DEI statement (provided that one has been established) and plan your courses of action to demonstrate a commitment to your values. This may include hiring a consultant to facilitate a DEI audit to assess current company culture and strategic planning for your organization’s needs.

Acknowledge areas of growth for your team around communication as it relates to unconscious bias, micro-agressions enacted in the workplace, and inequitable policies coming to light. Oftentimes with the help of a facilitator these courageous conversations can spark greater awareness of the often unheard needs of your associates.

Build spaces of belonging that create more support, trust, and equity. Having an assessment and conversations are merely the foundations of sustainable DEI work. Providing opportunities for ongoing dialogue and development have the potential to fortify the psychological and emotional well being of employees and in turn may strengthen satisfaction and loyalty.

Allow transparency while modeling authentic leadership in the areas of your own growth. Implementing change and learning new ways to acknowledge the myriad of ways that race and other aspects of identity affect workplace behavior and psychology is a daunting task that may breed discomfort.  In the words of Brene Brown, “dare greatly” by acknowledging that learning to disrupt inequity is a lifelong endeavor. One to one coaching may be appropriate for executives and leaders who want to deepen this work for themselves.

Having the courage and the foresight to offer everyone on your team the tools to feel more empowered, seen, and appreciated will do much to build cohesion and maintain positive relationships. If you already have or are looking to add diversity of race, ability, and gender to your team, having a ready plan of understanding and then action in place is a dynamic way to demonstrate institutional leadership in equity and inclusion.

Are you ready to take action?  To work with an executive coach on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, contact us at .  We also offer a course on Emotional Intelligence at Avenue 8 On Demand.