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Diversity and inclusiveness form the foundational essence of an overall successful and prospering business. It helps develop a culture of open-mindedness, broader acceptance and mutual respect. The culture of inclusivity and diversity paves the way for a healthy workplace.
Despite the size of the enterprise, an inclusive business culture benefits both the workplace and its employees. Diversity and inclusivity are very diverse concepts ranging from cultural and national mingling to gender, sexual orientation, race, religion, educational background, ethnicity and much more. Promoting a healthy environment in and around the working arena is profitable to your franchise in the long run. Although there is no shortage of ways to promote business diversity, it’s not a thing of a day or two but a prolonged process. However, we have listed some pointers that can help your business to be culturally more diverse.
Managers equate an essential driving force of any business firm, and excellent and comfortable between managers and employees is equally important. Promoting and educating your managers about inclusivity and handling diverse crowds is the first step towards this excursion. Cultural, ethnic, or other sensitive training sessions to spread awareness among the managers can inculcate dire values in them. This will further move them to hire, be open to more heterogeneous and inclusive employees, and indulge better with the existing diverse group of employees. Reporting structures and employee feedback mechanisms are great tools to simplify communication channels and enhance them.
Promoting diversity in thoughts and attitudes is the initial step towards building an inclusive surrounding. But this should always be backed up with policies that reflect similar thought processes and values. Evaluate your company’s current policies, and do a detailed and comprehensive analysis to make desirable changes and reforms. The guidelines should uphold the values of workplace diversity. The recruitment policies, performance feedback and other mechanisms should also be framed similarly. One way to go for it can be circulating job vacancies or positions to broader audiences and requirements that allow varied mass equal opportunity and participation.
Diversity and cultural multiplicity should be visible in various forms and not just formal. The best way to do this would be to curate a holiday calendar inclusive of all culturally diverse festivals. Be it Eid, Diwali or Hanukkah, celebrate all these festivities involving colleagues of varied backgrounds, even on a small scale.
Although indulging in every celebration with pomp and show won’t be possible, graceful acknowledgement via mail or brochures would also be highly appreciated.
There are other inclusive strategies which you can apply in your office zone. For instance, accommodation of non-gendered washrooms, facilitating options of flexible work hours.
True acceptance of diversity isn’t just reflected in grand displays, bonafide celebrations, subtle day-to-day activities, and small gestures or greetings. The best way to promote diversity is to embrace the great variety it presents forth. Facilitate a space to let colleagues from various cultural backgrounds come along and share little joys of their traditions with everyone.
Mentorship programmes to let every employee of high potential advance themselves in their field despite their cultural or sexual variedness is another way to embrace inclusivity. Companies with branches in various places can allow inter-branch interaction between employees. It is proven that a workplace with inclusive backgrounds tends to grow better regarding creative ideas, problem-solving and work efficiency. We are blessed to live in a world where people with similar anatomies have so much to offer individually and collectively to society. Instead of repealing this variedness, every organisation should embrace and accept such values by showcasing business diversity. Follow Jaldee Business blogs for more mind-tickling reads.