Diversity, equity and inclusion is an expansive subject and many individuals use different language for discussing it.
To prevent misinterpretation and ensure clarity in your work, it is vital that you understand each term’s definitions. Here is a breakdown of definitions:.
Equity
Diversity refers to all the differences among people, such as race, ethnicity, creed, color, sex, gender, age, (dis)ability, religion/spirituality political perspective education language culture sexual orientation as well as backgrounds experiences and skills.
Equity means ensuring everyone has equal chances for success regardless of differences. Organizations must assess their practices and policies to ensure they are fair for everyone, while looking into any structural inequalities which have historically disfavored some groups and benefitted others.
An organization with greater gender diversity earns 38% more revenue. Although this is an encouraging statistic, creating an environment in which everyone feels secure to bring their true selves and do their best work will lead to real transformation and lasting transformation.
To achieve this goal, companies must embrace diversity and inclusion at all levels of their organization. When employees feel included they are more likely to engage with work which drives innovation and productivity; additionally employees from diverse backgrounds provide fresh perspectives when solving problems and formulating solutions – according to a 2020 McKinsey & Company study companies that prioritize diversity outperformed those that didn’t.
When devising a DEI strategy, it’s crucial that each word be defined for your team. Furthermore, it helps determine their order: Should “equity” come before “diversity,” or vice versa? Ultimately it’s your choice and working definitions will evolve throughout your journey.
Once you have your working definitions clear, it is time to implement your strategy. Keep in mind that it takes time for people’s mindsets and behavior to change; be patient as changes take effect and be open to making adjustments as necessary along the way. By carefully designing diversity and equity initiatives for your workplace, ultimately creating an inclusive working environment where everyone can thrive – be that by placing more importance on letter order or striving to be more inclusive you’ll help ensure team members can use their individual strengths and contributions efficiently in concert.
Diversity
Diversity encompasses more than race or ethnicity differences; it encompasses any dimension that differentiates one demographic from another – be it age, gender, sexual orientation, religion, education level, language ability or socioeconomic status among many other aspects.
Diversity aims to appreciate and leverage the unique qualities that define every individual, while increasing productivity, morale, customer relationships, and business outcomes. According to Harvard Business Review research, companies with more diverse senior-executive teams had 19 percent higher revenue.
Inclusion means providing all people with equal access to resources and opportunities to thrive in an environment in which they are respected and valued, including employment. It entails addressing disparities in access, opportunity and employment; providing all people with the skills and tools needed for success within their workplace environment.
At the core of inclusion lies a belief that all people can contribute meaningfully to an organization’s success, which means reducing biases that prevent individuals from reaching their full potential and creating an inclusive workplace culture that embraces and values different experiences of individuals in the workplace. To do this, forums for discussion must be established where participants’ stories can be acknowledged – this may involve employee resource groups or educational initiatives as ways of building community.
Leadership must take the initiative in promoting diversity within an organization, setting a precedent of fair hiring and promotion practices, conducting ongoing training, creating a diversity committee, and soliciting employee feedback. When leadership prioritizes diversity, it creates an environment in which employees feel free to express themselves fully at work – leading them to their best work while building an atmosphere of inclusion that fosters innovation, performance improvement and competitive advantage in the marketplace.
Inclusion
Diversity refers to all the features that differentiate individuals. Inclusion refers to welcoming those differences and making sure each person feels valued for being different; it requires understanding privilege and power dynamics, while at the same time challenging the notion that being “different” means inferior. Inclusivity is what sets apart diverse organizations as being more innovative, profitable and engaging environments.
Inclusion refers to an equitable structure that gives every person a voice in decisions that affect them while taking into account their individual circumstances. DEI initiatives aim to achieve equity by addressing structural inequalities that have persisted for an extended period and favor some over others.
An effective Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) program is more than a hiring initiative: It’s an organizational transformation that changes how employees work together, leaders lead and coaches and mentor. A DEI program also addresses unconscious biases (stereotypes that form out of ignorance) and microaggressions, or negative behaviors directed towards individuals based on these stereotypes. DEI programs enable employees to bring their whole selves to work environments which fosters higher employee engagement levels and productivity levels.
Companies with greater gender diversity in management earn 38% more revenue. Furthermore, multiple perspectives during decision-making processes allow more creative solutions to arise from diverse input. A company’s success ultimately lies in its ability to attract and retain top talent – thus increasing profitability and growth.
As businesses become more competitive, organizations must foster an inclusive workplace culture to remain relevant in today’s business climate. To do this effectively, organizations need to realize that inclusion is more than a simple word or ideal; it requires ongoing dedication from all employees irrespective of title or position in the company.
To speed the pace of change, it’s essential that organizations have at their helm an advocate or group of advocates – champions. Preferably this person will come from an underrepresented demographic and understand first-hand about any problems being addressed by the organization. Furthermore, champions need a supportive network in place in order to take risks and challenge the status quo effectively.
Belonging
Belonging is the feeling of acceptance for who we are; it means feeling safe enough to express who we are in the workplace. When all employees experience belonging, performance improves and work-life balance becomes simpler to achieve. Unfortunately, barriers exist which prevent employees from feeling valued at work; we must address them to create an atmosphere of belonging among all our staff. Creating such an atmosphere starts with empathy.
Diversity, equity and inclusion are essential in the workplace for creating an inclusive culture. By addressing issues like implicit biases, discriminations and microagressions organizations can foster an environment that welcomes all individuals in an organization; ultimately helping companies meet their business goals more easily.
DEI remains an essential practice, yet many organizations struggle to effectively implement it. Doing so effectively requires an in-depth knowledge of human experiences and the challenges encountered by diverse groups – particularly at work environments with cultural or racial diversity that makes communication between colleagues difficult.
Successful workplace cultures start by listening to what employees have to say about themselves and gathering data through psychologically safe conversations or surveys of employee responses. With this information at their fingertips, leaders can gain vital insights into the current state of their culture as well as discover ways to support and grow their workforce.
Beyond understanding the needs of employees, it’s also crucial to assess how diversity impacts a business as a whole. According to research conducted by McKinsey, organizations with gender and ethnically diverse executive teams tend to enjoy better financial performance.
As you embark on the path towards creating a more diverse and inclusive workplace, it’s crucial that you define your terms. Decide which order makes sense for your organization – is equity before or after diversity, is EDI/DEI more preferable etc – then communicate them throughout your team for easier collaboration on DEI initiatives.