admin Imagining a workplace without the core pillar of diversity and inclusion is impossible. However, there are certain myths about these principles that need to be debunked before we can go about discussing their significance. Leaders must recognize the fact that both these aspects of an organization are not static acquisition points that can be achieved and then forgotten about. Diversity and inclusion are not destinations, rather they are ongoing processual voyages. It is the dynamic nature of both that continues to push organizations to embrace different protocols, programs, and strategies.
As we stand at the cusp of 2022, it is thus important to evaluate how the upcoming months will change an entrepreneur’s approach towards these principles. Over the course of the pandemic, we’ve witnessed how these guiding lights of the industry helped shape a transitional normal. Now we are poised to witness how they are in turn transformed by the new normal ushered in by the pandemic. Listed below are some of the ways in which companies can boost their diversity and inclusion efforts in the upcoming months of 2022:
- Remain Loyal to the Norms of Flexible Work
The last two years have infused an unforeseen flexibility quotient into the operational matrix of organizations around the world. As we move into 2022 and go back to some morphed form of normal, companies must remember that many employees may not be ready to get back into the physical mode of operation. They have to offer some flexibility to their employees as we are trying to reel back from such an unprecedented crisis. This helps foster the inclusion of those who may not be able to make it to the regular working hours or the physical mode of operation. Moreover, if firms embrace remote working as an important part of their operational approach, they can easily diversify their personnel pool. This helps transcend the locational barriers a firm may face in terms of hiring competent and hard-working personnel. Thus, the bottom line remains that flexibility in terms of operations remains a key to achieving higher levels of inclusion and diversity in 2022.
- Review your Approach
Even though you may think your company is the beacon of diversity and inclusion, the reality may not be so. If that’s the case, don’t take it to heart as this may simply be a result of oversight. What you need to do is go over all your hiring and management decisions and protocols. By doing so you can understand if there has been unintentional bias due to such oversights. Since data can always to trusted, embrace a data-driven approach to highlight the diversity pain points in your business. For instance, you can conduct a gender composition analysis of the list of candidates that make it through your first interview round. This will help you see if there’s are hiring trends that are counterproductive to your diversity efforts. Reviewing your own records is always the most prudent strategy, before delving headstrong into the changes needed for 2022.
- Foster All-Round Diversity
Diversity is not just a buzzword that sums up your organization’s character. It extends far beyond the brick and motor building of the company. Try to embrace a holistic approach to diversity in the upcoming months of 2022. From your contractors to your vendors around the world, pick a diversity-infused approach when selecting the various contact points of your supply chain. This will help you foster a truly diverse and inclusive organization, one that does not just pledge to be different but in reality displays this assertion through its actions!
- Lend a Listening Ear
Communication is key to any relationship. The same is also true for business relations within the confines of an office. In 2022, firms will have to listen attentively to what their employees are saying. Instead of forcing HR initiatives on diversity and inclusion, listen to what your employees have to say. By paying heed to their perspectives, you’ll get to enjoy a different window to these core principles. Moreover, the first-hand recounting of experiences and expectations will help you tweak your offerings in an optimized way. It will also help you tackle the issues you might not know existed. Thus, listening will be the key to attaining successful diversity and inclusion score in 2022.
As mentioned earlier, diversity and inclusion are not solely about the present. They are about changing the future while simultaneously making up for the mistakes of the past. Thus, organizations around the world need to cognize their strategies in a way that takes this multi-dimensional aspect of diversity and inclusion into account. By implementing the aforementioned pointers, firms can surely hope to make a change in their approach towards these principles in 2022!
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