In today's diverse workplace, inclusion is key to creating positive bonds between employees, promoting team development, and enhancing productivity. In this article, we will discuss the benefits of inclusion in teams and provide strategies to foster a more inclusive workplace.
The Benefits and Strategies:
- Natural Progression: Inclusion helps organisations be progressive by creating synergy that leads to better results and productivity. By valuing the unique contributions of each team member, organisations can create a more positive and productive work environment.
- Reducing Issues: Inclusion promotes appreciation of different roles in the workplace, reducing "team" rivalries and toxic environments. It also helps people understand and appreciate varied cultures, personalities, and circumstances, resulting in a more harmonious and supportive work environment.
- Empathy Matters: Inclusion fosters growth and independence, which is sustainable. Empathy is crucial in gaining access to an individual's personal world. Empathy in the workplace helps us recognize patterns of behavior and promotes self-care plans for individuals who need additional support or are transitioning through a crisis.
- Diversity: Diversity and inclusion are not just buzzwords for policies or websites. It requires values, understanding, knowledge, and time. It's essential to expand your general knowledge by learning something new regularly or questioning what you know so that you can be better informed from an external perspective.
- Peer Support: Inclusion can be fostered through peer mentoring, which can be an integral part of induction and professional development. Mentors who are diverse in knowledge and background can help reduce the risks of uncultured bias and empower open discussion and personal connections across age, culture, ability, and background.
By implementing these strategies, organisations can foster inclusion in their teams, leading to a more productive, positive, and supportive work environment.
Here is some useful links for your downtime reading:
Gov Diversity & Inclusion Strategy 2019-2023
Mckinsey why diversity matters?
HBR Why diverse teams are smarter
Gov Employing disabled people & people with health conditions
