I am convinced that inclusion builds the best everything. Even as I say it, and write, I realize that until one has embraced inclusion, it may be hard to know what this expression means, moreover, it might be difficult to access one’s degree of agreement. So, allow me to explain.
Declaring “inclusion builds the best” is an important foundation to a philosophy that values differences, equity and unity. Humanity is as much the same as we are different. Yet, we live in a world where differences are less celebrated than they are used to discriminate and drive wedges between us. Rather than speaking against division, its far better to speak up, and stand up for inclusion. This means in the simplest terms, including everyone in the good possibilities of life.
Definition of inclusion
Inclusion means respect for and appreciation of differences in ethnicity, gender, age, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, education, and religion. But it's more than this. We all bring with us diverse perspectives, work experiences, life styles and cultures.
Diversity is any dimension that can be used to differentiate groups and people from one another. It means respect for and appreciation of differences in ethnicity, gender, age, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, education, and religion.
Inclusion is a state of being valued, respected and supported. It’s about focusing on the needs of every individual and ensuring the right conditions are in place for each person to achieve his or her full potential. Inclusion should be reflected in an organization’s culture, practices and relationships that are in place to support a diverse workforce.
In simple terms, diversity is getting the mix; inclusion is getting the mix to work well together.
Here's evidence:
· McKinsey's research shows that gender-diverse companies are 15% more likely to outperform their peers and ethnically-diverse companies are 35% more likely to do the same.
· Catalyst research shows that companies with more women on the board statistically outperform their peers over a long period of time.
· Deloitte Australia research shows that inclusive teams outperform their peers by 80% in team-based assessments.
Inclusion builds the best teams, organizations and communities and economies. Economically, we need for everyone to both contribute and benefit from our industry. In the US for instance, if we continue to exclude the largest and fastest growing segments of the population, there will be too few people to buy our products and services, and to few build new buildings for.
It patently clear that it is easier to develop and deliver value added products and services to customers whom we understand. It is certainly easier to understand people whose communities we are apart. As consumers become more diverse so must the people who create and deliver the customer needs. So, by intentionally building diverse teams we enable inclusion and hence ensure our sustainability as enterprises in the marketplace.
Inclusion also builds the best communities. When we include a diversity of stakeholders in our vision for success we together can see a thriving community where people of all backgrounds can live, work, and play.
Inclusion builds the best!
