5 diversity and inclusion activities to build belonging on teams

Modern organizations recognize that to be leaders in their industry, they need a workforce that represents the society in which it exists. But while many companies are putting their best efforts into recruiting a more diverse workforce, it’s the experience created for employees that will ultimately drive their success. To keep employees from all backgrounds engaged, leveraging their skill sets, and sharing their ideas, there must be a sense of belonging for all.

There’s no one-size-fits-all approach or quick checklist for building diverse, inclusive teams. Even the most progressive companies are still figuring out how to create better systems and processes. And this sheds light on a greater truth: there is no end point to fostering inclusion; there will always be more to do, and more to learn. So the most important thing that any manager can do is see workplace diversity and inclusion as long-term projects, ones that will need continuous nurturing and dedication.

Why is inclusion important for teams?

An inclusive and respectful team culture impacts employees in a number of ways, from their collaboration with their peers to feeling they have a voice in what work they do and their relationship with their manager. When we look at the data from our Employee Pulse Surveys, we see a strong correlation between whether employees feel that people are respected for who they are at their organization and:

Caring about employee engagement and performance and caring about inclusion are inextricably linked. Team success requires a safe environment where people feel valued for who they are, not fearful of being judged, invalidated, or discriminated against. So, how do employees feel about workplace inclusion? According to our data,

19% of employees do not feel that people’s personal identities are respected by everyone in their organization.

That’s nearly 1 in 5 employees who don’t feel their work environment is inclusive for all. This is why it’s essential that organizations be intentional in developing cultures that not only value but embrace diverse perspectives, backgrounds, ideas, and approaches.

Every employee gets an equal voice in Officevibe. Discover our anonymous feedback tool that connects managers with their teams—even on the toughest topics.

Who is responsible for inclusion?

Ultimately, every individual in a workforce is responsible for making the people around them feel safe and valued. This includes managers, teammates, colleagues in other departments, upper leadership—everyone. When values of equity and respect are firmly established, they become something that each employee feels personally responsible to uphold.

A mistake that’s commonly made across all industries is that organizations leave it up to HR to foster inclusive environments. When CEOs delegate the “inclusion project” to their people team, they can inadvertently send the message that it isn’t a personal priority for them as a business leader. An organization’s staff look to leadership for guidance not just on the company’s vision and mission, but also its values and ethics. Inclusion should be central to the operations and direction of any business that wants to invest in it.

While diversity training and equitable values, policies, and structures are essential, efforts need to be made at both an organizational and a team level to build an inclusive culture. Team dynamics and employees’ sense of psychological safety play a big role in feeling respected and valued at work, and this is where management comes in. Managers have a direct impact in the way that employees interact with one another on a day-to-day basis, so they must make inclusion a priority in how they lead their teams.

Fostering inclusion on remote teams

As many organizations have been rapidly adapting to remote work, the impact that this shift has on employees’ sense of inclusion is as much of a concern as anything else. Going virtual has the power to create more balance and wellbeing, but it can also reinforce barriers if we’re not mindful. For example, people who live alone might benefit from their ability to focus and be productive, while people who aren’t tech-savvy can end up spending more time navigating new tools than getting work done. The fact is that each team, and each organization, will be impacted differently based on their pre-existing culture and norms.

How managers can promote inclusion on remote teams:

As the leader of your team, you play an important role in keeping everyone connected and giving everyone an equal say. Inclusive managers listen empathetically to their employees, advocate for them, and break down barriers when needed. More on this in the next section.

Expert tips for leaders to build inclusive workplaces

Michelle Kim, the CEO of Awaken who is passionately changing the face of diversity and inclusion efforts within organizations, offers three essential tips for leaders to build inclusive workspaces.

1. See people, not just workers

There’s a tendency to think that our identities in and out of the workplace are separate, but they’re not. When leaders take the time to demonstrate that they see people, and not just workers, employees feel valued for who they are. Ask questions, show interest, and show support for people’s personal identities and what’s important to them.

Tip: Find out what religious and cultural days and holidays are significant to your employees from different backgrounds, and offer them the time off.

2. Lead through tension

Remember that your workplace does not exist separately from the world, and world events affect your employees. Whether it touches on race, gender, religion, sexuality, or other identity-based issues, it’s key for managers and HR leaders to check in with their teams, make a formal company statement, and create a safe space to hold discussions or ask for support.

Tip: When major events targeting specific communities occur, gather your team and let them know that you recognize the impact. Ask if anyone needs some time off, and remind them you have an open door policy should they need to talk.

3. Use your power to level the playing field

People look to their leaders to set the norm, so managers must model inclusive behaviour for their teams. Here are some examples of how:

5 diversity & inclusion activities for teams

Inclusion must exist from beginning to end in an employee lifecycle, from the moment someone sees your recruiter brand to the moment they leave your company. But as Michelle Kim states,

There are a lot of companies that put out fancy marketing slogans about diversity and inclusivity but when we peel back the layers and look at how managers lead their teams there is a gap.

Here are 5 Diversity and Inclusion Activities for managers to build stronger teams:

1. Learn what’s shaped people

Create a safe space to learn about your employees’ backgrounds and what has been vital in shaping their lives. Doing this as a group allows employees to learn new things about each other that otherwise might not come up, and the act of being open, honest and vulnerable is a great way to form bonds, increase empathy and improve relationships.

2. Find out how people feel

Employees’ lives and experiences outside of the office inform the way they show up to work. Simply recognizing that and encouraging people to feel comfortable sharing builds inclusion because it makes it okay for everyone to be themselves. Try one of the following prompts to kick off a small group meeting or a one-on-one to set the tone for openness and vulnerability.

3. Confront stereotypes head-on

This particular inclusion activity suggested by MIT is a great way to break down misconceptions and stereotypes by giving people a chance to self-identify, while also addressing the stereotypes that can accompany these identifying factors.

Here are the steps for “I Am, But I am Not”

4. Walk in Someone else’s shoes

Harvard Business Review recommends “perspective taking” as a great way to mentally walk in someone else’s shoes. Lead your team through this activity with the following steps.

This reflection will produce more empathic teams, and according to the Harvard study, will help build positive attitudes and behaviors toward minorities. The study also reveals increased support and “engaging in less mistreatment toward marginalized minorities.”

5. Bring bias to the forefront

We all have bias, whether we think we do or not. One way to confront bias and reduce the use of non-inclusive language is to call it out (whether it’s from yourself or others) and encourage others to do the same. You can promote this on your team by starting a bias jar.

The practice will help everyone reduce their bias a bit more everyday by bringing it to the forefront. At the end of the year, use the money to do something fun together as a team.

How inclusive is your team?

The first step in improving any team’s dynamic is understanding it better. Offering a safe, anonymous platform for employees to share feedback helps managers leverage team strengths and identify pain points before they turn into problems. Officevibe does just that—and our Diversity & Inclusion Poll gets you insights specifically on your employees’ sense of team inclusivity. Questions include: