Diversity and inclusion are two popular concepts that continue to circulate around the workplace. Their importance can’t be overemphasized. As the workplace changes constantly, it’s necessary for businesses to ensure that they bring their entire workforce along. And in doing so, the principles of inclusion are an important factor that must be touched.
There’s no doubt that many business owners are seeking strategies to ensure that the key principles of inclusion are carefully implemented. It means that all parties involved, especially the human resources department, have a role to play in improving inclusion in the workplace.
In this article, we look at what inclusion is all about, detailing the importance of improving it across an organization. We will also look at the 4 principles of inclusion and how they can be implemented.
What does inclusion in the workplace mean?
Inclusion in the workplace means different things, but all these definitions make up the entire concept. Inclusion simply refers to ensuring your employees feel valued and connected to all that goes on in your organization. An inclusive workplace looks like an environment where everyone feels welcomed and valued. It could also look like one where employees are given the freedom to bring in their ideas as needed. An inclusive work culture also aims to provide all the resources needed for employees to be more engaged with their jobs. It cuts across all sectors of an organization. Diversity allows for a mix of people, while inclusion brings the mix to life. Every employee deserves to know that their opinions are heard and they are part of something big. To achieve this, organizations must understand the key principles of inclusion.
What are the 4 principles of inclusion?
The principles of inclusion are an important part of achieving great success with the workforce within an organization. These principles include:
1. Start with the hiring process. One of the key principles of inclusion is observed at the start of an employee’s experience with a company. The bias surrounding the hiring process can signal poor inclusion of employees. It’s necessary for hiring managers to let go of the need to hire people who they feel fit in perfectly with their cultural requirements. Diversity emphasizes the need to accept job seekers and employees for who they are as people and not just based on their color, age, and so on. To encourage inclusion, hiring managers must provide strategies that look way beyond a candidate’s status and focus on the requirements for the job.
2. Encourage employees to engage at all times. One of the ways to improve inclusion across a company is to ensure that your employees are carried along all the time. This can mean providing all the resources that are needed for them to actively engage. Employees should also be given the freedom to contribute to important projects across the organization. There should be no favoritism because that has a way of pushing some employees to the side. Get employees to participate in meetings and projects that can further boost their morale.
3. Align everyone with company goals. One of the 4 principles of inclusion is aligning the entire workforce with the goals of your business. This way, employees can move in a particular direction instead of doing things aimlessly. When everyone is aware of what needs to be done, the job is easily accomplished. It also makes employees feel valued and part of a bigger picture, which in turn boosts overall engagement. Remember to define these goals from time to time and make changes as needed.
4. Emphasis on better leadership. Leadership is another important factor in improving inclusion in the workplace. When selecting leaders, it’s necessary to go over who they are as a person. Can they serve as mentors to your employees? Will they ensure that diversity and inclusion are prioritized? Your chosen leadership can either make or break what seems to be an inclusive work culture.
Conclusion
The principles of inclusion are not to be taken with a pinch of salt. Instead, they should be prioritized so businesses can forge ahead successfully.