Four Ways to Build an Inclusive Workplace

Ed note: Posts published on From the Workplace are written by outside contributors and do not necessarily reflect the view or opinion of SHRM.

Workplace culture is a broad term that can be defined in many ways. An effective workplace culture is inclusive, collaborative, and aligned with organizational goals and objectives. When organizations carry out inclusion successfully, team members understand and are committed to their roles and feel valued and respected as contributors to the organizational mission, values, and goals. 

Look at Mission, Values, and Goals

Achieving a successful workplace culture starts with establishing and maintaining its mission, values, and goals. Obtaining feedback and buy-in from members of the organization helps achieve a higher level of commitment and dedication from everyone as they see themselves as part of establishing that culture. One way to do that is by creating a mission statement and strategic plan with the guidance and assistance of a workgroup that includes employees from various levels. This creates an inclusive environment that considers different perspectives.

Focus on Inclusion

Workplace culture thrives when it is inclusive, meaning that every member of the organization is valued and appreciated for their contribution to the goals and objectives of the whole.  One way to do that is to consider diverse perspectives—including, but not limited to, race, gender, disability, and age— when creating company content. For example, your organization could obtain and implement feedback regarding accessibility on things like:

• Transcripts for Zoom meetings. 
• Wheelchair access for physical buildings.
• QR codes on flyers with information on who to request accessibility for meetings.

Another way is to look at interviewer panels and questions.  An inclusive recruiting program would have interviewer panels that included employees representing diverse races, nationalities, ages, and genders, to name a few.

Ensuring a diverse group of people on a recruitment interview panel also helps to avoid potential issues related to implicit bias. When you have a less diverse group of interviewers, there is a greater chance of interview questions that may exclude people who don’t fit the same employment or personal backgrounds of the panel.

Value Collaboration 

Having a diverse team of employees who work collaboratively helps to create an effective workplace culture where everyone feels that their feedback and contributions are considered in decision-making that impacts the whole organization. When revising or creating strategic plans, consider setting up focus groups or surveys to solicit input from staff to promote an inclusive workplace culture. 

Nurture a Sense of Belonging

Whether or not a workplace culture is effective also impacts turnover and the ability to retain employees. When employees believe that they are not being valued they tend to leave those organizations to find one that appreciates what they bring to an organization. Ensuring that the workplace culture recognizes employees’ differences as an asset contributes to retention because employees want to work in an inclusive environment that nurtures a sense of belonging. 

You can never underestimate the power of a sense of belonging. You see it at competitive sports games where spectators come together to cheer on their team. The same is true with employees who believe in the organizational mission, values, and goals because they feel seen as contributors to this process.

Considering inclusion, belonging, and collaboration as it relates to your organization’s mission can go a long way toward building and maintaining trust, which is the cornerstone of an effective workplace culture.

Sandra Sims is a human resources business partner for UCLA Athletics and has over 20 years of HR experience in higher education institutions, government agencies, and private corporations.