Introduction
In the current socio-economic and cultural scenario, the concepts of diversity, equity, and inclusion are terms that continue to emerge and evolve as almost every global citizen reflects on their personal experiences. Diversity issues play a key role in the economic and cultural landscape of societies and countries today, as people become increasingly aware of their human rights and the treatment they’re subjected to in educational institutions, workplaces, and social spheres. Today, every action is viewed through the filter of diversity, and not knowing what these terms mean can result in unintentional insults or overlooking of crucial issues. In her upcoming book, Diversity in the Workplace Essentials You Always Wanted To Know (henceforth referred to as Diversity in the Workplace Essentials), author Jaquina Gilbert discusses why diversity is such an important topic today. Read the blog to find out why diversity is such an important topic today, especially in the context of the 21st-century workplace.
Workers Have Options
Today, workers have countless opportunities to leverage their talents and skills through remote and gig work, flexible hours, independent contractor projects, and more. Employers who hope to gain and harness those talents must now prove the value they bring to the working relationship.
Employees need to know that a company values them personally just as much as they value their skills. Expressing appreciation begins with establishing an organizational culture of diversity and inclusion. Industry leaders understand that while working to increase profits, enhance productivity, decrease attrition, and demonstrate social impact, they are also striving to become Employers of Choice. To do so, companies have to cultivate diverse and inclusive cultures capable of affecting systemic change within the organization, which also extend to the communities where their employees live.
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The Challenge
To build trusting relationships, employees need to be heard, understood, and respected for their opinions and beliefs. But even more, they must be valued for who they are authentically.
Unfortunately, many companies do not understand why it is so difficult to foster such relationships. |
Diversity Influences the Ability to Create, Manage, and Grow Successful Organizations
Some surging organization pain points include the need to build more dynamic and diverse cultures driven by strong internal and external relationships. Leading organizations must recognize, respond to, and nurture diversity within and among individuals in the workplace. Learning to solicit and include the voices that are often ignored helps leaders achieve this goal. It also helps empower employees as the organization continues to grow successfully.
Microaggressions to Privilege: From the Unavoidable to the Undeniable
Microaggressions and other biases within an organization are unavoidable. Without being acknowledged, these common occurrences will likely never be responded to or challenged. Companies that understand microaggressions and biases and how to fight against them will minimize the detrimental effects on the company culture.
Similarly, in every organization, many individuals experience some level of privilege; whether it is gender, religious, status, or race-related, it is bound to exist. The key is to ignite conversations that expose these behaviors and benefits so that they become a part of the critical conversations essential to affecting change.
When DE&I aligns with policies and practices
Carefully thought-out humanistic solutions can be impactful. The effort begins with understanding the historical context around race, religion, sex, gender, and other aspects of individual and collective identities. Combating challenges with information and insight helps devise the appropriate training, culture assessment, and awareness necessary to create practices and policies aligned with a more enlightened DE&I culture.
Diversity in the Workplace Essentials is a compilation of these often overlooked aspects of diversity.
This book introduces the historical influence of identity and diversity in the workplace and concisely explains challenging concepts to broaden diversity literacy
Professionals gain deeper insight into workplace impacts that may have traditionally been overlooked, disregarded, or misunderstood.
The book teaches that diversity and inclusion are about progress, not punishment. It initiates a narrative of what it truly means to have a diverse and inclusive workplace culture.
Focus areas include:
- Identity
- Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DE&I)
- Organizational Culture
- Enhanced Diversity Literacy
- Leveraging Talent
- Laws, Practices, and Compliance
- Cultural Awareness
- Systemic Change
Diversity in the Workplace Essentials is available on NetGalley. Read and Review the book now!
Diversity in the Workplace Essentials will be released in August. Stay tuned for the launch news.
This blog is written by Jaquina Gilbert, author of our upcoming book, Diversity in the Workplace Essentials which is to be released on 31st August 2022. She is also the author of Human Resource Management Essentials, already a part of our Self-Learning Management Series.
