Does your team have the focus on inclusivity it needs to succeed? Here’s the bottom line that modern team members and team leaders need to know: inclusivity is necessary for organizations to thrive. Inclusive teams are happier, more engaged, make better decisions, and are more innovative.
Yet, too many modern organizations lag behind when it comes to inclusion efforts. The statistics bear this out:
- Only 12% of companies have reached the “most mature” level in Deloitte’s diversity and inclusion model
- In the “c-suite” bracket, 68% of executives in the U.S. are white men; 18% are white women, 10% are men of color, 4% are women of color.
- Nearly half of employees still experience “discrimination based on age, gender, race or LGBTQ status in the workplace.”
Oh, and companies need to prepare themselves for inclusion and diversity efforts because the next generation of workers is the most diverse in history – and they have inclusion at the top of their priority list as they look for jobs.
So, how can you tell if your team needs to focus on inclusion? Here are six signs that you may need to take a second look at your inclusive behaviors and practices.
Sign #1: Your team isn’t engaged.
Are you seeing signs of disengagement among your team members? Emails not being responded to on time (or not at all), a lack of participation in virtual meetings, other (lesser) projects worked on at the expense of high priority ones? Teams that lack inclusion lack focus. Inclusivity gets teams engaged and stable. Inclusive teams provide the fresh faces and voices that bring the energy and spirit to power productivity – and the stability to deliver results over time. According to research from Changeboard, employees on diverse teams “work 12 percent harder, are 19 percent more likely to stay longer with the organisation, and collaborate up to 57 percent more effectively with peers.”
Sign #2: Team members don’t trust each other.
If the elements of mistrust — blaming, animosity, miscommunications — show up, it can be a productivity killer. Trust is one of the foundations of all high-performing global teams; as evidenced by our own research. Results collected from members of more than 1,300 teams in our Global Team Assessment (GTA) show that “trust among team members” is one of the most critical foundations for team success. Our experience over several decades of experience working with these global teams shows that an emphasis on inclusive behaviors creates that needed foundation of trust. Strong trust grows psychological safety and mutual learning — allowing for an atmosphere conducive for further inclusive actions and primed for continuous success.
Sign #3: You’re seeing recycled thoughts and ideas.
Seeing “Same old, same old” is the death knell of team innovation. Is your team caught up in the trap of using the same recycled thoughts, ideas, and actions on your projects? A lack of diverse voices might be to blame. Inclusivity among teams sparks creativity and innovation that modern organizations need to thrive. Companies with higher-than-average diversity rates had 19% higher innovation revenues, according to a Harvard Business Review study.
Sign #4: The bottom line is suffering.
Not seeing profits rise at the rate you’re used to — or something worse? Research shows a correlation between diverse teams and profitable companies, both in the C-Suite and at other levels. Inclusivity helps companies boost their bottom line. A McKinsey study showed that “companies in the top-quartile for ethnic/cultural diversity on executive teams were 33% more likely to have industry-leading profitability.” Another study showed that “decisions made and executed by diverse teams delivered 60 percent better results.”
Another benefit? Inclusivity opens up new markets. Here’s a staggering statistic – according to another Harvard business review study, employees of firms with diverse leadership teams are 70% likelier to report that the firm captured a new market.
Sign #5: Projects aren’t going anywhere.
Do you continually find that projects get bogged down or stuck in a rut? Organizations with inclusive, diverse teams know how to cut through the obstacles with decisive, out-of-the-box thinking that moves projects to their conclusion. Inclusivity allows teams to make smarter, faster decisions. Per one recent study, diverse teams make better business decisions 87% of the time – while doing it twice as fast and with half the necessary meetings.
Sign #6: Your employees are unhappy.
Sensing low morale and unhappiness within the office? A workplace without diversity could very well be an unhappy one. Inclusivity fuels cultural sensitivity and provides all employees with a safe, welcoming workplace, along with the spirit-boosting feelings of creativity and innovation. That’s not even mentioning the increased profits that come along with an inclusive workforce!
Looking to build an inclusive business culture? Aperian Global’s Inclusive Behaviors Inventory (IBI) can help you get started.
Stay up-to-date with GlobeSmart
Sign up to receive our latest insights on global collaboration and inclusion in the workplace.
