June is such an exciting month of the year. Not only do we get to celebrate fathers, but we also get to celebrate Black music month and Pride. There are so many ways this month represents the direction the world is going in, and that direction is towards more diversity. This means truly standing by the statement on those employee forms that state “We’re an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status.”
In today’s climate, it’s super important we learn to read the room. Having a diverse employee group is not only a positive reflection of your company but it can elevate your business to new levels. To help with your hiring needs, here are some tips from CIO to ensure you’re exceeding in diversity and inclusion
- Establish a sense of belonging for everyone
- Empathetic leadership is key
- Quotas don’t automate inclusion
- Inclusion is ongoing — not one-off training
- Forget ‘fit’ and focus on helping individuals thrive
The “quotes don’t automate inclusion” is an important one. Just because you boost the diversity within your company, doesn’t mean you’ve created an inclusive culture. Diversity and Inclusion doesn’t stop at hiring more people of color, different gender identities, sexual orientations, etc. It also doesn’t stop at just hiring a person of color for the Director of Diversity role. Take a step back and think how all people can feel included in the employee experience. Here are some questions to consider: How can each person in your company not just grow but thrive. How can you nurture the creativity and talent of your employees. These are key factors to actually implementing inclusion.
Have you taken a look at your staff lately? When you look at your executive board, does it represent various cultures, races, gender, etc. If not, it’s time to get on board!