Why Diversity and Inclusion Matter

Building a resilient change agenda for diversity and inclusion is not a simple task. “A company commits to diversity, that’s great! But is it reasonable to expect changes to how, when, where the work gets done to accommodate this growing diversity?” This was a question posed to me recently.

Building an inclusive culture is not for the faint of heart, not for those with a short term perspective, and not for those whose minds continue to be burdened by historic and often undisturbed bias. It take a firm understanding of the context in which the change will occur, the needed resources (including a carefully developed and intentional strategy), as well as a clear focus on the systems, practices, and patterns on behavior that drive performance (Shein model).

And most importantly, it takes leadership that has moved from acceptance of diversity as a necessary compliance requirement, to a deeply held conviction that it must be part of the DNA of the organization to survive. Resilient and inclusive cultures are adaptive and agile and take time, commitment, and relentless energy to create.

Is your organization up to the challenge? Feel free to reach out to me if your would like a copy of my new report “Creating an Inclusive Workplace.”