This article is part of a series on improving organizational culture through greater inclusion. It focuses specifically on the responsibility that managers and supervisors have in advancing this goal. For information on additional job roles discussed in this series, click here: C-Suite | Senior Management | Supplier Diversity Managers
For many of today’s companies, promoting diversity is treated as an initiative separate from the business’s financial or organizational goals. As a result, truly diverse and inclusive workplaces remain uncommon.
Rather than treating diversity as the exception to the rule, it is every company’s responsibility to ensure an equitable and inclusive work environment for their employees. As a Manager or Supervisor, you don’t always have control over the big decisions or holistic company goals. But you are the driving force behind well-run, effective, and efficient teams. Your job hinges on making sure ideas are properly communicated between senior leadership and the rest of the organization, and that new processes are implemented smoothly.
As a result, middle management–just like all company leadership–should be held accountable for improving their organizational culture and fostering diversity and inclusion within both their workforce and supply chain. Here are a few reasons why promoting diversity will improve your organization’s bottom line:
Inclusion Promotes Efficient Teams
Inclusivity necessitates clear, open, and comfortable dialogue between different members of a company. “Psychological safety – an environment in which people believe that they can speak up candidly with ideas, questions, concerns, and even mistakes – is vital to leveraging the benefits of diversity, because it can help make inclusion a reality.” (Psychology Today).
It is your responsibility to achieve high performance from your team. When employees are allowed to speak up and work as part of a community that values everyone, productivity is enhanced. When people feel safe within their work environment, they aren’t distracted by worrying about their background or what someone might think of them. Employees who are able to focus solely on the tasks at hand become more open to new ideas, different forms of brainstorming, and adjustments in their workflow. A diverse and inclusive workplace also allows employees to become more personally engaged with their work, fostering genuine interest and passion for accomplishing their goals.
Inclusion Fosters a Healthy Work Environment
Every manager and supervisor eventually encounters “problem employees,” or people that pose an obstacle to an otherwise smooth workflow. Low morale, feeling excluded, or lack of compassion for their colleagues can all contribute to this problem. When a person feels accepted and appreciated, and feels like their team is open to all kinds of people and ideas, company morale grows. Your team members will feel more equipped to take on new challenges and feel more satisfied with their work/life balance. With an inclusive workplace, employees are more invested in working towards common goals.
This is just the beginning when it comes to the benefits of inclusivity in the workplace. For questions on how to get started on the journey to motivation and business growth, feel free to reach out!
