What is Diversity?

You want to be an ally, but don’t know where to being? Start with the basics by knowing what diversity, equity, and inclusion mean. When we talk about diversity, we are referring to the various characteristics your workforce possesses, including, but not limited to gender, race, ethnicity, ability, education, socioeconomic background, sexual orientation, religious, political beliefs, and geographic origin.

What is Inclusion?

Inclusion is the degree in which we get to meet our “human needs for belonging & uniqueness.” We are always trying to balance our need to belong to a social group with our need to feel accepted for the unique skill we bring into the group. In organizations, we feel included when we are invited to participate in projects, formal and informal social gatherings. Inclusion is manifested when people share resources or information with us that enable us to be successful at work.

On the other hand, the feeling of being value for our unique experience comes from obtaining managerial or peer recognition. Keep in mind that everyone has their definition of inclusion, so its important to not assume how others want to be included and instead ask them. See below how a group of people responded.

What is Equity?

Equity means all your employees have equal access to opportunities & appropriate levels of resources that enable them to attain their full potential. It’s the acknowledgment that to succeed we all may need different degrees of support and resources. In his book, “The organizational game revealed”, Harvey Coleman provides a three-part formula for professional success. Performance accounts for 10%, your image for 30% & exposure which has to do with who you know & more importantly “who knows you” account for 60%. Historically, employees of color have been excluded from informal & formal networks that provide exposure, mentorship, and opportunities for advancement.

Want to foster inclusion and increase diversity and equity? Continue learning by reading this CEO in  “https://neuralshifts.com/diversity-inclusion-ceo-in-action/”article or Contact us to learn about our online training on diversity, equity, and inclusion. We will partner with you to understand your unique organizational needs and create a diversity & inclusion strategy that leads to success.