A True Story About How Inclusion Works
The workplace environment, whether virtual or in-person, is one of the most important factors to talent retention. How well the contributions, presence, and perspectives of different groups of people are valued and integrated into the work environment-or your organization’s level of genuine inclusiveness-determines how long your best employees stay hardworking and happy.
Have you ever worked with a diverse team of top-tier talent over the course of five or more years? I have at our B2B agency and it’s a thing of beauty so I’m here to share how your organization can do the same.
Fostering Collaboration
Ensuring everyone truly has an equal opportunity to contribute to and influence every part and level of the workplace is genuine inclusion. You may be thinking how can my organization accomplish this? Hosting weekly or monthly team meetings, whether virtual or safely in-person, are ways to stay connected with your team. Encourage each member, especially the introverts, to contribute by acknowledging what they are expressing and listening first. By sharing a variety of perspectives and cultivating a truly collaborative environment, your team can create synergy together and problem-solve the toughest of issues.
Showing Recognition
When employees don’t feel that their ideas, presence, or contributions are valued or taken seriously by their organization, they will leave. Hardworking employees need to feel valued, and work is often one of the few places they can be recognized for their individualism and accomplishments. Our B2B web design and marketing agency does an excellent job with compensation, paying each team member fairly regardless of their sex or racial diversity. When team members feel valued, they are more likely to produce the best possible results as they are internally driven to perform at their best.
Encouraging Authenticity
Confirming everyone feels safe and can bring their full, unique selves to work is key to attracting and retaining a diverse group of talent. Tunnel vision or groupthink can be avoided when you have an accurate representation of our colorful world. Check-in and ask meaningful and appropriate questions to create an authentic dialogue with each team member.
Our team has a weekly virtual happy hour call where we celebrate the wins with each other. Carving out time for the human experience as most of the workforce is still working remotely ensures the extroverts don’t jump ship as they need to feel connected now more than ever.
The backbone of America as well as the future is inclusive. When companies express authentic compassion, inclusion, acknowledgment, and dignity to all employees, society, not just the workplace, wins.
