Lately, I've heard several people say they wish they had more time for DEI, or they want to participate in initiatives like BHM celebrations, joining an ERG, or book clubs. While these are great things to do, the real change many of us want to see requires adjustments to our day-to-day efforts.
Unfortunately, many of us still think of DEI in the workplace as an "add on" or "check-the-box" effort. This is not, and should not be the case. Attending workshops, joining an ERG, or celebrating cultural months are excellent ways to contribute, but we (ALL OF US: leaders, individual contributors, DEI practitioners, etc.) need to shift our attention to our day-to-day work. It's often easier and less time-consuming to contribute to DEI in our regular tasks.
Here are some specific examples to help move from theory to practice:
If you work in sales, be mindful of the pronouns you use when addressing customers, and check any assumptions about their sexual orientation.
If you are a recruiter or sourcer, examine the candidate pools you're creating, identify personal biases, and check that you're treating all candidates fairly.
If you're a hiring manager, ensure your hiring process is fair, and interviewer reviews are objective.
If you work in HR, make sure that people are receiving timely and accurate information that impacts them.
Of course, these are just examples, and everyone's situation is unique and nuanced. DEI coaches can help further pinpoint areas to focus on individually.
Let's shift our mindset from treating DEI as an "add on" or "check-the-box" effort and integrate diversity, equity, and inclusion into our day-to-day work.
Drop a comment and let me know what you think about this! Or join in on the discussion via YouTube (https://youtube.com/live/EqQsW_t82Go).