Inclusive Working Environment

Inclusion plays a great role in the corporate world. You may feel that being inclusive is easier said than done. Inclusion is achievable with just intentional action and attention at every level of the organization.

An organization striving to be inclusive is one building the corporate culture that embraces unique ideas, perspectives, experiences, and people. The key to an inclusive work environment is making sure each employee feels included and relevant.  You need true commitment from everyone, every day and throughout an organization, to create a culture of inclusiveness. Leaders need to show they authentically value the people behind the ideas and experiences.

Talking about inclusion, it is vital to note that the managerial top-down approach to your employees does not contribute to inclusion. Instead, inclusion revolves around the day-to-day interactions between employees, managers, leaders, teams, and peers. In other words, genuine inclusive workplace practices rely on both leadership support and grassroots energy.

Remember that your commitment as a leader encourages people under you to commit. To make a real impact and display a continuous commitment to your people and an inclusive work environment, you must understand the dynamics at work in your organization.

The main components of an inclusive workplace:

THE VOICE

It is no secret that when employees feel their voice is heard, they’re more likely to share their opinions and ideas.

SENSE OF BELONGING

An employee’s commitment to the company is built on their sense of belonging — the feeling that you’re a part of an environment that knows and values you.

SENSE OF UNIQUENESS  

It is important that employees feel unique among their peers, that their company cares about their individual strengths and experiences.

LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT

Employees who have access to learning and development opportunities, as well as enough resources for work know that their company cares — about their ideas, aspirations, and growth.

COLLABORATIVE ENVIRONMENT

Regardless of the role or department, a collaborative environment gives a sense of engagement and involvement, while promoting an organization-wide inclusion.

Some ways to create an inclusive working environment include:

• Educating both staff and leaders

• Listening and communicating effectively

• Encouraging employees to be their full authentic self

• Constant Collaborative work to achieve success

These may seem quite hard, but getting them right is worth it. It helps create a corporate culture that leads to a productive, successful, and fruitful future!

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