Meaningful Diversity: Creating Cultures of Inclusion
In the fitness room the other day, I caught a glimpse of a movie trailer on television. A father spoke very open-heartedly with his son about his work as a fireman. He acknowledged the fear that welled up in him when he looked into a small, dark room filled with life-threatening heat and flames, and described the instinct to run in the opposite direction.
He had to pause in a safe hallway and assess the situation, the father explained, consciously remember why he had chosen his work ? and why he must go forward into the fire despite his fear. Strange as it may sound, I find creating a culture of inclusion to be a lot like this.
People differ in so many ways that wherever two or more are gathered "combustion," in one form or another, is likely to follow. Although they may be uncomfortable at times, these differences are vital. Our challenge is to understand this sometimes fiery vitality and, despite discomfort or fear, make a conscious decision to move forward anyway. If we can do this, the invisible walls that divide people begin to burn away and the benefits of their shared presence and participation can emerge.
As H.E.B. grocery spokesperson Winell Herron, Group Vice-President for Public Affairs and Diversity, noted at a recent presentation before the Texas Diversity Council, U.S. businesses initially accepted cultural diversity initiatives because it was the legal thing to do, and only later because it was the right thing to do. Now, as our language is shifting from diversity to inclusion, people are discovering that creating environments where differences are actively sought out and everyone is valued is also a smart thing to do. This grocery chain's business case for embracing diversity has focused on increasing innovation, attracting and retaining top talent, accessing a larger supplier base, retaining and expanding existing markets, and increasing revenue.
How do you motivate leaders and their teams to begin the long journey toward a true culture of inclusion when they haven't even glimpsed, much less experienced, what is possible? Again, this is like asking someone to leave what is safe, comfortable and known and walk into a fire ? for no apparent reason. Then there are those who have been working to bring about change for a long time and are overwhelmed by the challenge and "underwhelmed" by the results. How do you help keep everyone moving forward when they're feeling weary and unrewarded? Here are some tips from my work at Highest Vision to help you foster a culture of inclusion in your workplace:
UNDERSTAND THAT CULTURE SHIFTS TAKE TIME. Working with people is an incredibly complex and rewarding task: the greater the preparation, the higher the potential for big pay offs. Like gardening, creating a culture of inclusion is an organic process. You must plan what you want to grow, till the soil, provide water and fertilizer, select and plant a variety of "seeds," and nurture them along. Storms will sweep through and you'll have to protect your seedlings, and do some replanting. And just like in gardening, the timetable and precise form this new culture takes will be beyond your control. Be patient and have faith.
BEGIN BY FOCUSING ON COMMONALITIES. Stabilize your current environment by ensuring that everyone feels valued and is united in a shared purpose ? when this is compelling enough, differences are transcended. Take this further by helping your staff see each other as human beings, rather than simply human "doings." Create opportunities for people to talk and socialize together beyond their work duties, around issues that apply to a broad range of people. Topics like parenting, providing care for an aging parent, coping with illness and death, and financial management help people to realize that we're all in this thing called life together.
WORK WITH YOUR GROUP TO DEVELOP YOUR OWN "BUSINESS CASE." Saying that a culture of inclusion is simply a good thing to do or promising it will produce immediate business success will set the initiative up for failure. Change requires energy, and generic statements won't provide you with enough fuel for your journey. Create discussion forums. After talking about what you believe is possible, invite people to talk about their ideas, values, concerns and fears. Ask thought-provoking questions, such as: what might be possible if we didn't put limits on people based on our own needs, perspectives, fears, and comfort zones? What do we need so everybody can thrive here?
RE-EVALUATE EXISTING SYSTEMS AND BUILD NEW ONES. Once your staff understands the potential benefits to creating a culture of inclusion -- increased staff morale and more innovation powered by diverse perspectives to name but two -- you're ready to enter the fire. Use this as an opportunity to review processes in your organization, like hiring practices, sourcing your goods and materials, marketing, meeting management, mentoring, and compensation. Leave no stone unturned. Just because that system, language, or set of decisions used to serve the organization well doesn't mean it continues to do so. Then, figure out what new efforts are needed to get you where you want to go.
Our work world has the capacity to close the gulfs that separate people ? and demonstrate the great value of doing so. Creating an inclusive culture requires first opening our own hearts and then extending invitations to others to do the same. What we can count on is that our minds will follow. By showing up as willing students and teachers for each other, our wisdom and productivity increase exponentially. As business leaders, we must continue to consciously enter the "fire." The rest of the world is counting on us.
Susan J. Schutz founded Highest Vision in 1999. Highest Vision services ? executive coaching, leadership development, and team building -- reflect her deep conviction that professionals can be attentive to their "bottom lines" while also creating lives worth living and businesses that contribute to the good of all. For a free subscription to VantagePoint, Highest Vision's free E-zine for trailblazers in life and business, go to http://www.highest-vision.com.
 Google News Updated : Fri, 10 Oct 2008 17:49:09 GMT NATO agrees on Afghan drug role for military - The Associated Press
The Associated Press - BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) - NATO defense ministers Friday authorized their troops in Afghanistan to attack drug barons blamed for pumping up to US$100 million (euro74 million) a year into the coffers of resurgent Taliban fighters. NATO Joins Drug War in Afghanistan NATO to Hit Drug Trade in Afghanistan Publ.Date : Fri, 10 Oct 2008 16:11:48 GMT UPDATE 1-Bush says US moving quickly to solve market crisis - Forbes
Forbes - WASHINGTON, Oct 10 (Reuters) - President George W. Bush said on Friday the US government was moving aggressively to address the financial markets crisis, but he acknowledged that anxiety was feeding on itself as stocks continued to plunge. Bush appeals for confidence Bush Says Markets Must Remain Calm Despite Challenges Publ.Date : Fri, 10 Oct 2008 16:33:45 GMT Eagles' Westbrook out for Sunday's game - Sports Network
Sports Network - Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - Philadelphia Eagles running back Brian Westbrook will not play on Sunday at San Francisco. Westbrook, who has been hampered by a sprained ankle he suffered in the Week 3 victory over Pittsburgh, fractured his ribs in ... Brian Westbrook: Ruled Out Les Bowen: Eagles vs. 49ers: The pick Publ.Date : Fri, 10 Oct 2008 17:20:18 GMT Help Support Breast Cancer Awareness With Lifespring Health - MarketWatch
MarketWatch - Lifespring Health will be Donating $5 to the Susan G. Komen Foundation Each Time you Shop Online This Month SUNNYVALE, Calif., Oct 10, 2008 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- October is breast cancer awareness month! Go "Passionately Pink for the Cure" on Oct. 17 Panera Bread to sell pink bagels Publ.Date : Fri, 10 Oct 2008 16:05:31 GMT Coleman calls off negative ads - Minneapolis Star Tribune
Minneapolis Star Tribune - By Patricia Lopez, Star Tribune ...and it has nothing at all to do with several outlets (including one of Franken's ads) letting us know that a Coleman ad that wants us to … read more see Franken looking out of control/angry, is actually video of ... Coleman: I'll remove negative ads and urge others to do same Coleman says he'll pull negative ads to focus on economy Publ.Date : Fri, 10 Oct 2008 17:25:04 GMT States probe possible voter registration fraud - Chicago Tribune
Chicago Tribune - Questions about possible cases of fraudulent voter registrations were being raised this week as officials in several states investigated hundreds of questionable or duplicate registration forms submitted by an advocacy group. Carnahan statement on ACORN registration mess Republicans try to tie Obama to vote fraud cases Publ.Date : Fri, 10 Oct 2008 16:48:10 GMT A Cautious Approach to Gardasil Shot - U.S. News & World Report
U.S. News & World Report - News today cheering the fact that 1 in 4 teen girls has received the Gardasil vaccine sounds to me like some serious spin from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the government agency pushing girls as young as 9 to get the shot. Cancer Vaccine Used by 25% of Girls 13 to 17 Quarter of adolescent US girls received HPV vaccine Publ.Date : Fri, 10 Oct 2008 17:14:13 GMT RSS For Web Pages |
PARLOT::Ebooks, Scripts,
Websites, and more... The need for constant reinvention is a given in today's... Read More Implementing an ISO 9001 system represents a major effort. However,... Read More Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More When you begin to write your business plan or a... Read More Have you ever hired someone who did not live up... Read More With deference to Dr. Covey and his very popular Seven... Read More COMPANY/ORGANIZATIONA South Florida hospital. The CEO of the hospital saw... Read More Creativity measurement is often required in order to benchmark existing... Read More Recent trends in software development market show that it is... Read More Managing the Human Being Behind the Business It's... Read More Everyday a business owner, CEO, or manager somewhere is complaining... Read More To a narcissist-employer, the members of his "staff" are Secondary... Read More Six Ways to Keep Things Simple We can have greater... Read More 1. Create a filing system with broad categories such as... Read More I'm sure you've experienced those typical "headache" meetings! You know... Read More As an experienced manager, I can announce without a doubt... Read More Businesses miss on growth opportunities and even close their doors... Read More Following on from the last edition of The Organised Times... Read More Imagine for a moment this scenario from a frustrated Senior... Read More "What do you mean you need to push back the... Read More WHAT MAKES A GOOD APPRAISAL INTERVIEW?Here is a tip for... Read More Probably as well known as SWOT, SMART turns goals, objectives... Read More International business is more complex than ever before. Success in... Read More This article relates to the Work/Life Balance competency, which investigates... Read More Being able to give effective feedback is not just a... Read More
Adsense
websites
7 Strategies for Sustained Innovation
ISO 9001 Compliant Program: Steps to Build
Innovation Management ? Raw brainpower versus experience
If You Build It, Investors Will Come
Hire Winners: Avoid These 10 Interview No-No?s
Eight Skills of Highly Successful Consultants
Improving Patient Sensitivity in Doctors and Hospital Staff
Measuring Creativity, DIY style
Is It Worth To Outsource? How One Can Outsource Wisely
Business Leadership Skills - Managing the Human Being Behind the Business
Attract and Retain Positively Great Employees - An Action Plan for Employee Training
The Narcissist in the Workplace
6 Ways to Keep Things Simple
Organize your Office- Seven Solutions
Holding Effective Meetings Can Be Easier than You Think!
Rules for Running a Meeting
Optimizing Your Cash Flow With Proper Accounts Receivable Management
Develop Your Managers and Keep Your Staff
The High Cost of Employee Turnover Among Project Managers
The 70% Solution: Practical Testing and Version Control
What Makes a Good Appraisal Interview?
Transform Any Business into a Go-Getting Power House by Working SMART
What Cross-cultural Training Can Do for You
Tales from the Corporate Frontlines: Employee Ideas Achieve Work Life Balance
The Do?s and Don?ts of Giving Feedback
Affordable and Reliable Web Hosting Starting at $4.49/Month
Quick Tips On Bringing Out The Best In People
Want to bring out the best in people?Edward W. Smith,... Read More
Dialogue vs. Discussion
Have you ever sat in a meeting where everyone is... Read More
Burger on a Bun Decision Making
When approaching any decision, it's important for individuals to maintain... Read More
What One Thing?
A few weeks ago I asked my readers what the... Read More
Management Training: Are You Satisfied With The Results?
If you're not satfied with the results of your management... Read More
Transparency: A Key To Your Effectiveness
Last month I talked about the Skilled Facilitator principle of... Read More
Another Use for Meetings
Every meeting is a laboratory where you can observe and... Read More
Creativity and Innovation Management :- Thought Leadership
Leadership is only sustainable when leaders consistently come up with... Read More
Christmas Carol Coaching - Help to Get Ahead at Holiday Time!
I've always been fascinated by situations where art imitates real... Read More
10 Steps Towards A Stress-Free Introduction Into Management
Becoming a manager for the first time can be an... Read More
Creativity Management and Time Pressure
There is a pervasive belief that time pressure stimulates creativity.... Read More
Why Your Company Needs An E-Mail Policy
Everyone at the office thought that using the company e-mail... Read More
A Fast and Simple Way to Update Your Business
You open your computer, the flashing button says, "We have... Read More
Difficult Employees-Poor Performance - 10 Tips for Dealing with it in the Workplace
I personally struggle with the term 'managing people' - because... Read More
I Cant Use This Approach Unless My Boss Does - Power, Accountability, and Consequences
People who work with us often struggle with this dilemma:... Read More
PR Still a Mystery to Some
Unfortunately, there are managers who define public relations by its... Read More
Motivation - You Get What You Reward
There's a programme currently running on BBC Television in the... Read More
Business & Family Safety and Health Rating
For good reason, practically every endeavor in life is rated.... Read More
A Management Strategy
I witnessed some interesting behaviour from one of our premier... Read More
Cross Cultural Solutions for International Business
Globalisation, the expansion of intercontinental trade, technological advances and the... Read More
The Truth?
The pure and simple truth is rarely pure and never... Read More
Training Adults, Not Teaching Children
Adults are vulnerable to personal and professional embarrassment from poor... Read More
Tales From The Corporate Frontlines: Job Security in Todays Workplace
This article, Job Security in Today's Workplace, is part of... Read More
Catch Your Staff Doing Something Right
A long time ago, I learned something about being a... Read More
Hiring Productive Employees: A Checklist for Assessing Their Appeal
The characteristics of job applicants have a strong influence on... Read More
Business Management |