Inclusive leadership is a modern way of leading that makes sure every person feels included and safe irrespective of their background, ideas, and experience. In today’s fast-forward world, workplaces are becoming more diverse, with people from different genders, cultures and perspectives coming together. Inclusive leadership provides an environment for the team members where they feel motivated. It also ensures creativity and employee satisfaction. Inclusive leadership helps organizations succeed in this fast-changing era. Involving everyone in the decision making and listening to their point of view leads to better teamwork, innovative ideas, and business growth. By focusing on the inclusive leadership, leaders build stronger teams and create a workplace where everyone has an equal chance of growth.
There are many organizations that struggle with creating inclusive environment due to lack of awareness, reluctance to change, and unconscious biases. According to a Harvard Business Review study, organizations having inclusive leadership are 70% better at capturing new markets as compared to other organizations. This clearly shows the importance of inclusive leadership in this rapid-changing world.
This article explores the necessary traits of an inclusive leader, core principles of inclusive leadership, and best possible practices that any organization can adopt to build inclusive workplace.
What is Inclusive leadership?
Defining Inclusive Leadership
Inclusive leadership is a leadership style in which every person in the group feels valued and empowered in the team regardless of where they belong. It is totally different from the traditional leadership that follows the hierarchical system and authority. Inclusive leadership emphasizes collaboration, fairness, and open communication. Inclusive leadership emphasizes fairness, teamwork and open and clear communication.
In inclusive leadership, leaders encourage a comfortable environment, making employees feel motivated and respected. Inclusive leadership strengthens teamwork and enhances creativity and better decision-making. In today’s diverse world, organisations can grow and thrive by fostering inclusive leadership.
Impact on employee engagement and productivity
Inclusive leadership increased productivity and employee satisfaction. When employees feel included they contribute and take initiative, remaining committed to the success of their organizations with creativity and innovative ideas. According to the research of Deloitte, organizations having inclusive leadership are twice as likely to meet financial goals and six times more likely to be innovative.
The business case for inclusive leadership
Inclusive leadership has remarkable benefits beyond the moral and ethical aspects.
The Business Case for Inclusive Leadership
Beyond the moral and ethical aspects, inclusive leadership has significant business advantages. A study by McKinsey & Company found that organizations with diversity in leadership positions are 25% more likely to make high profits. This research also reveals that businesses and organizations with employees from different cultural and ethnic backgrounds perform better financially. These findings demonstrate that workplace diversity promotes fairness and company success.
The Core Traits of an Inclusive Leader
Inclusive leaders possess specific characteristics that enable them to foster an environment of equity and respect. Here are the core traits:
- Self-Awareness
The first step to being an inclusive leaders is to know about personal assumptions. A leader of an organization should be aware of personal biases and take active steps to reduce the impact on decision making.
- Empathy
Empathetic leaders actively listen and make an effort to understand different perspectives. This creates a culture where employees feel seen and valued. Empathetic leaders strengthen their relationship with employees and build trust by providing a safe environment where everyone can share their ideas.
- cultural intelligence
Cultural intelligence is basically the ability to communicate and deal with people having diverse backgrounds. To create an inclusive environment in workplace Inclusive leaders educate them on cultural norms and values.
- Collaboration
Leaders should encourage and help teamwork by providing equal chances to the team members to share their thoughts and put efforts. As innovative ideas lead to the success of the organization.
- Accountability:
Leaders of the organisation need to take the responsibility to ensure the involvement of everyone in the team. This can be possible by taking action against unfair treatment and ensuring respectful environment.
Best Practices for Inclusive Leadership
Organizations should adopt best practices to implement inclusive leadership.
- Support diverse talent:
By implementing the fair hiring criteria and mentor programs Inclusive leadership in the workplace is possible. This will ensure that diverse talent has an equal opportunities for growth.
- Foster open communication:
Leaders should encourage all the team members to participate in the decision making, give feedback, and listen to their amazing ideas and concerns. He must have the courage to listen to the criticism and ensure that everyone gives the feedback without the fear of judgement. Leaders should arrange the town hall meetings to encourage a comfortable environment for all the members.
- Inclusive decision making:
Leaders should involve all the members in decision-making by getting their point of views on a particular issue. This will definitely lead to the success of the organization.
- Psychological safety:
Leaders need to ensure that all the employees of the organization feel comfortable sharing their views without any fear of humiliation and punishment. Teams having psychological safety always perform better.
- Provide DEI training:
There is a need for regular Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) training to ensure inclusive leadership. These training emphasizes communication, cultural diversity, and unconscious bias.
- Regular Assessment
Leaders should track the progress and take necessary steps for the improvement. Organisations should conduct the surveys and employee feedback to check the progress.
- Promote Active ally ship:
Inclusive leaders should take a stands and steps for under-represented groups by different ways like mentoring, sponsoring, and listening to them while decision making.
Overcoming Challenges in Inclusive Leadership
Despite best efforts, organizations often encounter challenges when implementing inclusive leadership. Here’s how to address them:
- Reluctant to change:
Employees and the leaders are reluctant to accept the change and new or latest method or style of leadership. To solve this issue, there is a need to showcase the success stories of the companies that just go with this new change.
- Lack of awareness:
There are some leaders of the organizations who don’t really know about the importance of inclusive leadership. To cater to such problem, provide proper education and mentorship to make them aware of the benefits.
- Unconscious Bias:
This is really a difficult situation if there is a biased leader in the organizations. Biasness effects the organizations in hiring new employees, promotions of the current team members. To resolve such issues there is a need of structured decision-making process to reduce bias.
Real-World Examples of Inclusive Leadership
- Inclusion journey of Microsoft
Microsoft has integrated inclusive leadership by embedding DEI in the organization. It offers inclusive training to the employees and provide makes sure that diverse talent gets equal opportunities for success.
- Satya Nadella’s Leadership at Microsoft
Microsoft has been known as a global leader in DEI. By fostering empathy, innovation, and collaboration, Satya Nadella has totally changed the culture of the workplace at Microsoft.
3. Accenture’s DEI Strategy
Accenture has committed to achieving a gender-balanced workforce by 2025. The company uses data-driven DEI initiatives to track and improve inclusivity efforts.
Conclusion
Inclusive leadership is necessary for creating the environment where all the employees of the organisation or team feel respected and that they are important and empowered. Leaders of the organisations can improve employee engagement, success of the business, and innovation by fostering collaboration, self-awareness and cultural intelligence. Inclusive leadership is basically the key driver of long-term success of the organization.
Author: David Feindouno