Having an inclusive and diverse society is so important – this is especially so at work. An inclusive workplace is one that values individual differences in the workforce and makes them feel welcome and accepted.
When you bring together people of different abilities, genders, ethnicities and backgrounds great things can happen. We take a look at what each of us can do to promote inclusivity in the workplace.
So how can you encourage inclusivity at work?
Make sure that the workplace is accessible for everyone. While you may not know exactly what everyone requires, make sure you ask for any adjustments you require. This may encourage others to speak up or increase management's awareness of other people’s needs.
Encourage the celebration of holidays from all cultures. This could be simply wishing people a happy holiday or actively encourage celebrations from other cultures at work.
Be the person that’s there to listen if people have any problems. Encourage people to share any problems or issues they may be having without feeling like an annoyance – sometimes it can help just to have a chat about them.
It can be easy to get comfortable within your team and stay around people who you're friends with. If you work in teams, make a conscious effort to work with people that you don’t know well or haven’t worked with before. Not only will this help you be more inclusive and meet new people, but it might actually help you be more creative by bringing new ideas and perspectives.
Don’t be afraid to speak up if you hear or see anything that you don’t think is right. Speak up and challenge it. Just because it may not directly affect you doesn’t mean you should overlook it. If you’re worried about what other people may think, look at how you can do this anonymously or speak to HR.
Ultimately, ensuring true inclusivity in the workplace is at the heart of effective leadership and management. However, there's lots that each of us can do to encourage this!