We’ve recently been part of a number of discussions about diversity in the workplace and this has us thinking about how we can all be better at recognising our bias’ and working towards removing them. One way is to engage empathetically. That way we can ensure our bias — unconscious or otherwise — doesn’t stop us from including someone who might just be the one to create the best possible future for our business.
The first step to identifying the best way forward is to get to the heart of what’s important to those who are most effected by a lack of integration and inclusion. The principles of design thinking provide a solid, structured framework for seeing things from a different point of view. This opens up a much greater opportunity to innovate, design and problem solve.
Step one in this process is empathy. Instead of assuming that you understand someone’s need and creating a solution based on perceptions, assumptions and outdated points of view, consciously put yourself in someone else’s shoes. This provides rich information and insights into our real opportunities to include and engage with a wider demographic. Nature, nurture and life experiences shape our thinking and perspectives on everything; whether it be race, age and gender or ethnicity, socio-economic status and sexual orientation. Our personal experience creates both the greatest opportunities for success and our biggest potential blind spots. Without conscious inclusion, we are limiting the future success of our organisations.
So how do we become more inclusive?
Keep working on our approach until we get it right. Fail fast, prototype often and empathise. We already know that empathy enriches relationships but it is now becoming an increasingly recognised way to arrive at better quality solutions — regardless of our field of work. If we use empathy when considering how to create more diversity in the workplace, we will increase levels of engagement and acceptance of wider points of view, and that is a very good place to start!
If you want to know more about a design thinking approach to diversity in your workplace, contact us for a coffee and conversation at andrea@beyondperformance.co.nz, call 027 777 8744 or connect with us on LinkedIn.