A hot topic in the media and in many other industries, organisations are now realising that Inclusive Leadership can be a game-changer and is fundamental for companies looking to grow, diversify, attract the best talent and increase productivity.
In previous blogs, we have mentioned the benefits of adopting diversity and inclusion into the work place, including: an 81% increase in performance and productivity; an 84% increase in motivation; an 86% increase in innovation and creativity; 79% more collaboration; and 81% greater engagement and loyalty.
Today, diversity has become part of everyday life and a top priority when it comes to recruitment as organisations have seen the value in having a diverse workforce. However, there is no point in having a diverse workforce if there is no inclusion; diversity may be achievable, but it won’t sustainable without inclusion.
As humans, we are creatures of habit and we often do and say things without thinking. As times are constantly changing, what was once accepted and appropriate language or terminology may no longer be tolerated and what is deemed acceptable in one culture or by one age group may not apply to another. This can make people feel uneasy and wary about what they can and can’t say so as not to offend anybody. Similarly, in the workplace we have different experiences varying from company to company and what’s accepted as the norm and just banter in one workplace could be seen as bullying in another.
Unless our behaviour is pointed out to us we may not know and our ingrained biases and beliefs won’t change easily or without effort. Diversity training brings issues of cultural bias and discriminatory practices to the light and shows how they can hold businesses back from success.
Historical cases of sexual misconduct or harassment are no stranger to our front pages today with many incidences going unheard of for years, because in some cases, no one had the courage to confront. On social media, videos pop up showing social experiments of how members of the public react to certain situations – but sometimes it isn’t about courage but about not knowing what to do.
The role of an inclusive leader is not just about listening to your employees’ opinions and making sure people in your workforce aren’t eating lunch alone, it’s about creating an environment where people feel comfortable, feel included, will be listened to and are confident on how to act in certain situations.
In life, we don’t receive a warning of what’s about to happen, nor do we get to practice and if someone is being bullied, most people would like to say they’d get involved and stand up for them but in reality this can be a very different story. Equally, in the work place we could be confronted with a situation which we are unsure of how to handle – whether it’s for the sake of our own job or not wanting to interfere.
Often poor communication or assumptions can cause undesirable situations and we could attempt to write countless blogs for you on how to deal with these or hold a lecture where you can take notes, but this isn’t really our style. At Righttrack, we use various training methods using drama and role play and with clever script writing, goose-bump inducing delivery and professional facilitation, we deliver workshops which bring so much to life.
Drama is the most effective way of stimulating emotions and audience thinking, resulting in people reflecting on their own behaviours, prejudices and preferences. It has the unique ability to bring situations to life, engage people on an emotional level and achieve long-term behavioural change.
Our workshops are a memorable event that can be captured on film and used as part of in-company refreshers and because they are so engaging, the workshop will stick in peoples’ memories. Our research shows that participants remember exactly what happened at drama based workshops for months and even years ahead.
Role play is the best way of helping people practice the skills they have learned; to see how it sounds and feels; and to work out what is working and what isn’t working within a ‘safe’ environment. There is no better or more effective role-playing when actors are involved. They can create challenging situations that will prepare individuals and build confidence.
In partnership with West Midlands Combined Authority, RightTrack will be running a Growth Through People ‘Inclusive Leadership: the Low-down and the Game Plan’ on 24thApril from 12pm – 2pm at Solihull College.
This high-impact workshop will demystify the term ‘Inclusive Leadership’ and demonstrate the behaviours that do (and don’t) create inclusive environments. But best of all, we will bring all this to life with real workplace situations using professional actors who will role-play specific scenarios. You will go away with both the low-down, and a game plan to ensure you have the right approach.
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