5 Reasons to Join Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
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HR Exchange Network is gearing up for the feel-good online event of the year: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). The sessions are beloved because the speakers are always passionate advocates of fairness and doing the right thing. They lift up the most vulnerable among us, and they maximize the strengths of individuals with different perspectives and skill sets to proliferate the success of the company.
Their work is tireless and sometimes thankless. Even as representation goals are met, DEI leaders must continue to ensure equity endures and cultures remain welcoming. It never ends because complacency is the enemy of DEI strategy.
WATCH: DEI: Create a Culture of Belonging
Here is why HR leaders should care and join in on DEI:
DEI Is Good Business
In a 2020 study, McKinsey found the most diverse teams are more likely than ever to outperform less diverse teams on profitability. This was true for both gender diversity and ethnic and cultural diversity. The logic is obvious; diversity means more perspectives will be taken into account, and therefore the company, its products or services, and its people will have broader appeal in the market.
A Sense of Belonging Is Priceless
When people feel comfortable and can bring their whole selves to work, they have the wherewithal to pursue their goals. They have motivation. Most importantly, they are not demoralized or distracted as they probably would be in a place, where they did not feel as though they belong. The challenge, however, is helping teams of people with different backgrounds find common ground and welcome each other. Creating a workplace culture, where people feel like they can be themselves and learn from one another, is arguably the nirvana of HR.
Different Perspectives Enrich the Team
A monolith is boring and leaves no other options. When people with different perspectives come together, share ideas, and ask each other questions, they can come up with more than one way of executing a plan, solving a problem, or developing an idea. In addition to reaching conclusions at a faster pace, a diverse team makes for a more exciting work environment. If everyone thinks the same, there is no debate or thought-provoking conversation. There is no cultural exchange without different cultures.
A DEI-Focused Business Has Greater Reach
Teammates with different perspectives, who have different backgrounds, relate to more varied groups of people. As a result, they can cultivate relationships with new sets of clients, colleagues, mentors, and partners. Their voice can extend the reach of the business, as a result.
DEI Is About Being Fair
In the hit musical Hamilton, the character Angelica raps, "...That all men are created equal...When I meet Thomas Jefferson, I'm gonna compel him to include women in the sequel." In addition to this call for women's rights, the concept of having black and brown people representing the white founding fathers and their wives made the point that not everyone was included back then. In fact, they were degraded. But the American aspiration should be inclusivity, and businesses can play their part in the grand experiment. DEI paves the way to greatness.
Ultimately, DEI is all about being fair. The hope is to progress beyond that history, to create a level playing field, and to make things equitable for everyone on the team. The bottom line is that DEI is all about treating people with dignity and respect and giving them all a fair shake.
Join the conversation and get advice from speakers from top companies at the DEI: Create a Culture of Belonging online event. It's free to register.
