After examining the results of our Vaya Vision survey related to leadership development in a previous blog, it’s time to take a look at the other part of this research focused on Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion (DE&I). Our Vaya Vision survey asked over 1,000 U.S. professionals for their views on DE&I, and their feedback shows that we still have a significant amount of work to do.
The survey revealed significant gaps between the perceptions of different employee groups regarding DE&I in their workplace. Here are some of the highlights:
These findings point to how employees tend to perceive their company’s commitment to DE&I initiatives. If the very people (i.e., females and minorities) who need to experience the positive impact of DE&I clearly don’t, several negative implications can follow. For example:
If these results have given you pause for thought, you’re not alone. As the founder of the Vaya Group, I’m deeply committed to guiding organizations to create a diverse and inclusive culture, just as we have done with our own team.
You as a business leader have the power to shape the DE&I vision of your workplace. Here are some ways to bring that to life:
Using an objective and independent assessment for identifying high potential (HiPo) talent is a key way to show that your business is committed to identifying the best person for each role and removing any subjective criteria that may accompany a ‘looks like me’ approach.
Developing your soft skills as a leader is critical. Take the time to build connections with each and every person on your team. Make sure they know you’re there not only to lead, but to support a culture of positive employee relationships.
Employees now expect business owners to prove they understand the value of a diverse workplace and take responsibility for driving it in the right direction. Take the time to communicate your organization’s progress and commitment to DE&I in the workplace.
The first step towards lasting change is acknowledging that unconscious bias, however unintentional, is a very real problem. Integrating DE&I practices into every level of your organization is vital to the ongoing success your people – and ultimately, your business.
Learn More
For more information on the Vaya Vision survey, please visit www.vayapath.com/vayavision.
For related content, check out the first blog in this series: Bias in Leadership Development is Real – Now What?