he National Centre for Diversity, we spend a lot of time thinking and talking about leadership. Leaders are trendsetters: the custodians of culture in organisations. The success of their teams is driven by their vision, their ability to navigate challenges, and their ability to engage the modern workforce. Good leaders imbue an organisation with drive and purpose, they are invested in their people, and they earn their team’s investment in return.
Having worked with hundreds of organisations, we know that inclusivity is not just a nice to have as a leader, it is foundational. Inclusive behaviours and thinking give leaders a fundamental skillset that allows them to navigate the demands of an evolving landscape with ease. With diverse workforces in every sector across age, gender, sexuality, ethnicity, and background, cultural competency is essential to effectively communicate and collaborate with teams who may have rapidly different skills, experiences, styles and proficiencies.
Thinking inclusively opens a world of insight into how teams, shareholders and markets respond and engage – this perspective is invaluable when it comes to making critical decisions. Looking at the world through an inclusive lens helps to analyse situations effectively, foresee potential outcomes, minimise risk and enhance successes.
Inclusive behaviours go hand in hand with emotional intelligence – your ability to act and lead inclusively will build trust by fostering respect and demonstrating your ability to recognise the unique contributions of your diverse team and colleagues. Equally important is the knowledge and insight that allows you to recognise the unique challenges that people with different backgrounds, abilities and needs face.
Good leaders are invested in people: they value diverse insights, skills and experiences and they can recognise barriers in the workplace that might be holding back growth. Having a good leader who values and respects the contributions of their team is essential to long-term success, providing stability and direction while earning commitment and dedication.
Your ability to behave inclusively is key to your ability to lead well. The good news is that we believe inclusivity is a learned skill, like a muscle that needs training and development. We have pioneered Inclusivity IQ as a tool to help you reflect on your ability to act inclusively and we offer a range of bespoke training options designed to foster your inclusive behaviours and supercharge your leadership.
