ATLANTA, GA / ACCESSWIRE / April 16, 2021 / For decades, diversity has been an important point of focus for many successful organizations, and recent generations have placed even more emphasis on diversity and inclusivity in the workplace. Cultivating a diverse workplace involves the inclusion of people of different backgrounds, genders, races, ages, cultures, and sexual orientations, and this can be incredibly valuable for many reasons. In fact, according to Harvard Business Review, companies with higher-than-average diversity had 19% higher innovation revenues.
Deepak "Dee" Agarwal, long-time entrepreneur and c-suite executive, knows first-hand the value of prioritizing diversity and inclusion in your recruitment and hiring practices. "Diversity not only establishes a workplace culture of openness but also demonstrates the value of multiple perspectives," says Dee Agarwal. "Your company is as dynamic as the people who operate it. For your business to exist and succeed in today's world, it is critical to have a diverse workforce."
Understanding that diversity is important and valuable is only one piece of the equation. How can business leaders ensure that diversity is at the forefront of their values?
"It all comes down to mindfulness," says Dee Agarwal. "Think about what is truly important to your organization, and base hiring decisions on these coveted qualities."
Below are Dee Agarwal's actionable tips for cultivating a diverse work environment.
1. Make your values clear
If you truly value your employees and what they bring to the culture of the business, make this known. Demonstrate that you want to create an open, communicative, equitable, and safe environment for all of your employees to feel comfortable fulfilling their role in the business and contributing to the dynamics of the team. Ensure that diversity is represented in the company's mission, vision, and values, and the company branding reflects the diversity of the company.
"If this is important to you, tell your team. Better yet, show them," says Dee Agarwal. "This will ensure that your intentions are known, and if there are any barriers that are creating tension or discourse, your employees will feel comfortable bringing it to your attention."
2. Educate yourself and your employees
This is a critical step in creating a healthy, diverse workspace. To better understand how you and your workforce can make everyone feel accepted and valued, consider hosting training events, inviting expert speakers, and facilitating open discussions for employees to voice their opinions on how to improve workplace culture.
"Sometimes the best ideas come from the people experiencing the culture first-hand every single day," notes Dee Agarwal. "So ask your employees -- what can the company do to improve their experience? If you take the initiative to ask, your employees will feel that their needs are being considered."
3. Value differences
To develop a workplace culture that values diversity, you must appreciate what makes each individual member of your team unique. Every person has a unique experience and story that makes them different and adds something of value to the work environment -- both personally and professionally.
Allow your employees to highlight what makes them different and make it known that their unique qualities help make the team smarter, more insightful, and well-rounded. Give them the platform and support they need to be open about their personal beliefs, values, and backgrounds.
4. Encourage workplace collaboration
Create an environment where collaboration is frequent and expected. Having a team working in a silo limits their ability to understand what each member of the team brings to the table.
"Offer opportunities for members of different teams, ages, cultures, and backgrounds to work together as often as possible," says Dee Agarwal. "This will give everyone the chance to get to know people that they may not normally work with. There's no better way to engrain the value of diversity in your team than to give them the opportunity to experience it first-hand."
5. Revisit your recruitment strategy
To create a diverse work environment, address your strategy at the recruitment level. Take a close look at hiring and compensation policies to ensure inclusiveness and equity. Consider outreaching certain groups or organizations of underrepresented groups, recruiting in different locations, and training your HR department to avoid subconscious bias.
"People in hiring positions may not realize that by recruiting from the same places and schools, you are limiting your pool of diverse, qualified candidates," says Dee Agarwal.
6. Be flexible
In a truly diverse workplace, it is the responsibility of leadership to understand that employees' needs will differ. Be mindful of recognizing and accommodating important dates and holidays for different religions and cultures. Consider offering an extra day off to be used for a holiday that may not be on your company calendar. Not only will this make your existing team feel cared for, but you will also likely attract more interest from diverse candidates that value this consideration from their workplace.
"Diversity has always been incredibly important, and it is exciting to see it become such a significant topic of discussion in recent years," says Dee Agarwal. "We hope to see business leaders and executives continue to educate themselves on the value of diversity and how they can develop a work environment that promotes that."
For more expert business guidance from Dee Agarwal, read Dee Agarwals Top 5 2021 Consumer Trends and Predictions
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SOURCE: Dee Agarwal