[WATCH] Begin with empathy: Diversity and Inclusion in the workplace
By Andie Uy
Diversity and inclusion is more than just hitting targets on gender and race representation. It comes down to leading with empathy and having open lines for dialogue and engagement with staff in decision making.
Diversity and inclusion does not end when a company has x% female or y% nationalities in their workforce. Beyond numbers, leveraging diversity and activating an inclusive culture in business demands leadership.
Sustainability Advisors Kalmond Ma, Dr Merrin Pearse and Tiffany Lee gathered for a chat moderated by Andie Uy to talk about how diversity and inclusion can drive business value and push the agenda forward. Watch our conversation about their personal experiences of being treated differently in the workplace - along with best practices across different companies and organisations.
Key takeaways from the chat:
Diversity and inclusion requires buy-in and focused efforts from the top. It takes leadership to build a culture of empathy and trust where employees are not only respected for their difference but can play their strengths to the betterment of the company
Staff engagement such as feedback mechanisms, forums for knowledge sharing and even creating avenues for board members to listen to their custodians are just some ways companies can cultivate empathy and bring in diverse perspectives
Promoting D&I results in higher staff morale that can lead to increased productivity. At the same time, having voices from different backgrounds heard on a team allow for more holistic and future-proof solutions to business problems