Who does not want that?
EVERYONE wants that! And more:
- twice as likely to meet or exceed financial targets
- three times as likely to be high-performing
- six times as likely to be innovative and agile
How does a company achieve this, you may ask? SUPER simple!
By creating an inclusive environment.
And this is where the cookie crumbles!
- “I do not know what inclusive means”
- “It is not aligned with business goals”
- “I do not believe this works”
- “We do not have time for this right now”
It turns out is is not so hard! Like Marlow’s pyramid you need to start with the pyramid base and add until you reach the TOP. The good news is: it only has 3 steps.
I worked in IT companies all my professional life (10 years) so here are my suggestions for IT companies:
COMFORTABLE
- Improve your Performance Interviews to be FAIR (actually helps drive equal pay)
- fair means: have a worked out mathematical formula. It is not so important what that formula is as much as it is important that YOUR employees knowing there IS ONE!!! (it is a darn good start)
CONNECTION
Only and only if you have worked out the previous point continue working on this one. Remember it is a pyramid.
- Offer opportunities for different social activities, and NO, going to a beer is not inclusive and soooo not enough.
- Have you tried: hiking, escape the room, beach volleyball, cooking, helping out at a shelter or volunteering together for a better cause? You get the point…
- Do not be shy to invite also people from other departments! It really really really helps!
CONTRIBUTION
Only and only if you have worked out the previous point continue working on this one. Remember it is a pyramid.
If you think comfort and connection was hard to achieve, you better give up now.
- Are employees really involved in your decisions?
- Have you asked them what would be a good work from home guideline or did you just slap it on them?
- Have you asked them if the interface makes any sense to a woman? How about a child? How about a visually impaired person?
- Have you asked them what your company values mean to them? Do you even have any? (NO? perfect! you have the amazing opportunity to make them collaboratively! You have values already? Can you afford to change any or add?)
- Do you value the people who drive your business?
- Do you, as the CEO, ever compliment them on a small contribution (in person)?
- Do you have a down to earth, real life (NOT about business) (ones will say VULNERABLE) conversation with your employees?
- Do you ever talk about the purpose of a task? Do you listen when they struggle with motivation? Do they even TELL YOU?
These are just some ideas I know would have helped me stay in my work place. Anyway, the more simple ones.
Still skeptical I see… Don’t take my word for it!!! Please read the Deloitte Belonging article. Just hot off the press (15 May 2020).
Make time to understand the implications you read there! If you just plan to skim through then don’t bother.
“8 times more likely to achieve better business outcomes“
I really really don’t believe it is so hard. The only reason why I think it is not implemented yet is: “the day to day business is simply done differently in my company”.
Disclosure: quotes are not quotes from people I know. They are just my left shoulder talking to the right shoulder, trying to argument both sides 🙂