4 Simple Steps to a More Inclusive Work Environment
Photo by Lindsay Henwood on Unsplash
After reading numerous articles about Dr. Anthony Fauci, I have been very impressed with his work ethic. He was asked how is he handling the negative press about him. He said, “I just want to do my job. I’m really good at it. I want to contribute.”
I see this as an example of humility. He doesn’t have time to listen to critics because he is too busy doing his job to save the lives of the American people. This is a guy who isn’t asking for attention, but is getting it because of the great work he is doing.
The same principles can be applied to our work environments. If people were a little more humble and not always seeking attention above others, we would have more inclusive environments. Focusing on doing a good job is key rather than focusing on the attention you will receive.
To bring about change in your work environment, take these 4 simple steps:
Give credit to others - when you are working on project with others, be sure to recognize them. It can be tempting to take all the credit to make yourself look better, but it’s not good for the team. Recognizing your team members creates better partnerships and collaboration.
Help others be successful - I have noticed whenever I’m helping others, I feel better about myself. I would encourage more people to do this. Give your staff more exposure to senior management. You don’t always have to be the one who speaks. This will grow talent within your organization. If people aren’t given opportunities, it will inhibit their growth.
Don’t take over every meeting Have you ever been to a meeting where the same person takes over the meeting? They speak over you and interrupt you. This can be annoying and frustrating for others. Give others a chance for their voices to be heard. You may have an introvert among your team who has amazing ideas but isn’t able to get a word in.
Don’t micromanage your team members - Allow your team members to lead a project from end to end. You can give them feedback on ways to improve, but give them the opportunity to make decisions to move it forward. They may have a different skill set from you that will take the project to another level. If you continue to micromanage, you will find that your team will no longer be proactive in leading initiatives because they are so used to being told what to do. They will be afraid of hearing the constant negative feedback about what they should have done differently. Give up the control and you may find you have a high performing team that creates new ways of doing business.
Humility will make you and those around you happier. It also creates a more inclusive work environment that spurs innovation and creativity. This will only help you and your organization be successful.
Organizations are now finding ways to be more diverse and inclusive. This is great to see and I look forward to how this evolves so that many more people can be recognized for their work.
Look for ways that you can make these changes in your work environment today. This will help transform how organizations do business and take us into the future.
Here’s to your success!
Best,
Rene