Every human is different; we all have different backgrounds, personalities, and aspirations. Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) embraces people from every walk of life. It recognizes the value of diverse voices and inclusivity as key factors of success. Each component of DEI is aimed to create a more welcoming, fair, and respectful environment to everyone. To successfully create a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace culture, it’s critical that leaders invest in resources, time, and courage. The positive encouragement of participation and representation of diverse groups will significantly impact an organization. Ultimately, DEI is vital in creating a successful workplace where everyone is able to grow and thrive, both personally and professionally.
Defining Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) represent an important movement within society and growing organizations. Collectively, DEI will create an environment where individuals feel supported and welcomed, and are given the resources needed to succeed, regardless of their background, identity, or differences.
Since diversity, equity, and inclusion all represent a different type of change, it’s valuable to look at each term individually:
Diversity: The ways in which individuals are different, both visibly and invisibly. This includes characteristics, experiences, opinions, and personalities. Diversity in the workplace is the practice of valuing differences of social and ethnic backgrounds, gender, sexual orientation, age, language, education, religion and more.
Equity: Creating fair access and respectful treatment. Equity does not mean that everyone is treated the same, but rather treated according to individual needs. It is the process, whereas equality is the result.
Inclusion: Ensuring a safe space of belonging, support, and respect. In an inclusive environment, every individual feels valued and all voices are heard.
Classifications of Diversity
Humans are diverse in a variety of ways. There will always be differences that exist between individuals, whether they are visible, or not. Some factors that play into diversity are those that we are born with, whereas others are built throughout our life experiences. While there are many dimensions of diversity, these dimensions can be divided into four classifications, including internal diversity, external diversity, organizational diversity, and worldview diversity. It’s important to acknowledge these differences, in order to build a positive and encouraging workplace.
Components of Inclusion
Diversity and inclusion depend on each other; inclusion introduces ways to integrate everyone and make diversity work. The biggest challenge in building an inclusive company culture is to ensure that everyone feels included. After all, no one likes to be judged, or feel left behind. People experience inclusion in a variety of ways. There are many ways to make an organizational setting more inclusive, and allow the differences of individuals to coexist in a way that is beneficial for the whole company.
Role of DEI in Organizations
The changes related to embracing diversity, equity, and inclusion will significantly improve an organization. DEI creates an environment where people from various backgrounds are able to share different ideas, skills, and insights. This environment ensures that every team member feels involved and supported. It is not simply an environment where diverse individuals are present, but rather where diverse individuals are involved, empowered, and developed. A diverse, equitable, and inclusive organization requires respectful efforts from every team member to work towards success. It’s important that employees feel safe working together in a space without fear or discomfort. When everyone is involved, potential grows and professionalism thrives.
Equity vs. Equality
Equity and equality are terms that are often used interchangeably. Although similar, equity and equality carry different meanings, especially in the context of social systems. Equality is providing the same resources and levels of opportunity to everyone. It holds the assumption that every individual should be treated the same and given the same value and rights, regardless of their needs or circumstances. Equality displays a ‘one size fits all’ system, which is only effective if everyone has the same needs, and are starting at the same point.
This post is from May’s topic on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, which is also a course on our Mini-MBA program online from Harvard Square.
