“Teamwork makes the dream work.”
We know… who wants to hear yet another clichéd statement that people and companies throw around to motivate and inspire others?
However, when we’re talking about sustainability, teamwork is no cliché. Accelerating sustainability is a true team effort. After all, we’re all on this planet together, so it’s important to bring everybody on board.
Inclusion plays a massive role in sustainable development. On a societal level, ensuring inclusion and equity means achieving the SDGs in a comprehensive, integrated way – leaving no one behind. On an individual level, inclusion can bring diverse perspectives and ideas together, promoting adaptability and a willingness to share power. As we’ve repeatedly declared, leaders of the future are facilitators – and a huge part of facilitation is fostering inclusion.
When it comes to change management – including sustainability initiatives – leading with an inclusive style is key.
Inclusive leaders ensure everyone feels:
👂 Heard
🌹 Valued
🎗 Supported
💪 Empowered
So, what does it really mean to be an inclusive leader? And why is it so important? Let’s explore…
What is inclusive leadership?
According to research, inclusive leaders generally share the following six traits:
💟 Visible commitment
💟 Humility
💟 Awareness of bias
💟 Curiosity about others
💟 Cultural intelligence
💟 Effective collaboration
Even though “inclusion” has become somewhat of a buzzword in organizations today, it remains a crucial factor in business and team success.
Research from Deloitte found that organizations with inclusive cultures are:
2️⃣x as likely to meet or exceed financial targets
3️⃣x as likely to be high-performing
6️⃣x more likely to be innovative and agile
8️⃣x more likely to achieve better business outcomes
Danger zone! ⚠️ Here are some signs you’re working in an uninclusive team:
Inclusion is not an easy-to-grasp concept, and sometimes it can be difficult to know whether your team or organization is truly being inclusive. Here are just a few warning signs:
🟥 Most of your colleagues (and especially the leadership) look alike.
🟥 There is no safe space – whether this is a physical space or an email inbox – where employees can address concerns.
🟥 You don’t use inclusive language.
🟥 You notice cliques at work.
🟥 Your company has high turnover.
How is inclusion related to sustainable development?
Promoting inclusion can help drive equitable and inclusive processes, ensuring that everyone has equal access to opportunities. It can also lead to more conscious decision-making; for example, leaders who are aware of their privilege and unconscious bias make more conscious and fair decisions.
Former CEO of Unilever and sustainability champion Paul Polman has urged for a green and socially inclusive recovery in the transition toward a green economy. “Whatever you do, you have to create a more equitable society,” he said. “That means including women and [minorities] in everything you do. Be sure to make this an inclusive recovery.”
Inclusive programs at Limelights
When we work with organizations to accelerate sustainability, we’re working with large teams to drive change on an even larger scale. So, for us, building inclusive sessions workshops and programs is paramount. Here are a few tactics we use to promote inclusion when working with clients:
🙋♀️ Working together alone. In our sessions, we first ask everyone to think about the question or assignment on their own before going into group or plenary discussions. This allows people who need more individual working time to come up with ideas instead of giving time and attention to the people who tend to be more vocal.
💬 Using the Chat function on Zoom, so everyone is invited to share their thoughts and ideas. We also ask a few people to share or elaborate verbally.
✍️ Democratizing the collaboration process by using Miro or sticky notes, allowing everyone to contribute.
🥁 Diversifying the formats of exercises and assignments within sessions. Sometimes they are verbal, sometimes they involve drawing or playing with Lego… whatever floats your boat!
🔇 Facilitating mindfully. When we facilitate a session or program, we keep track of the goals of the meeting, but also how to get there – such as giving quieter voices a moment to speak.
Overall, our mantra revolves around co-creation and working together to accelerate sustainability.
👉Need help strengthening inclusion in your organization to accelerate sustainability? Reach out to us today!
