Diversity & Inclusion
True change comes through organizational shift.
The reason is they only focus on one aspect of diversity and inclusion. Organizations with the highest diversity are also inclusive, ensuring every individual is highly valued, feels they belong, and is working towards a shared purpose. The way this is achieved is by focusing on all policies, procedures, and practices, creating an environment that promotes and ensures inclusion.
Why should companies focus on diversity and inclusion?
The research is clear. Organizations with diversity are more profitable, more productive, and more innovative. Diversity is and will continue to be a differentiating factor between organizations that thrive and those who struggle. However, diversity is not enough. While research indicates that diverse companies outperform those with little diversity, research also indicates that simply putting teams of individuals with differing backgrounds together is not enough. The reason is that without inclusion, diversity is harmful. Organizations that want to increase their performance must focus on creating an inclusive workplace culture where each individual is highly valued and contributing to the overall purpose of the organization.
What is the difference between Diversity and Inclusion?
Diversity
Diversity is the measure of the differences between all individuals within the organization. The more individuals are different from one another, the higher the score.
Diversity includes demographic differences including race, gender identity, sexuality, educational background, and socio-economic status as well as individual strengths and areas of growth. It does not end with how an individual looks. It spans beyond this into the way an individual sees the world, their past experiences, and their individual creativity, strengths, and problem solving approaches.
Inclusion
Inclusion is the set of actions, thoughts, words, and feelings that result in each person feeling they belong, are a necessary part of the organization, and working towards a shared purpose. We provide the template to create an inclusive workplace with our five core behaviors of inclusion – education, values & ethics, leadership, communication, and management. Building inclusive workplaces requires the effort of every person within the organization and a focus on creating an environment and supports and encourages inclusion.
The Privilege Quiz
Have you ever wondered if privilege provided you a leg up or if it held you back? Have you wondered how your life's circumstances measure up to others in the United States? The privilege quiz can help you to illustrate privilege in your life and see that privilege illustrated in relation to others in the United States.
Diversity & Inclusion Services
Each of our diversity and inclusion services focuses on providing organizations with the right strategy necessary to create an inclusive culture. Whether your organization is focused on decreasing discrimination and workplace harassment, increasing the diversity of the workforce, or creating a workplace where each individual is valued, we provide evidence-based solutions that result in real lasting changes.
We blend our methodology and approach, providing services at each level of the organization, ensuring training translates to practice.
Coaching
Sometimes leaders want more specific support in an individual area of practice. Our Diversity and Inclusion coaching focuses on providing leaders with the tools and strategies they can implement to increase the inclusive practices of their organization and/or team.
Our coaches work with leaders to first assess their individual skills and create a growth plan that targets their specific goals and objectives. Once goals are determined, our coaches provide leaders with individual training, feedback, and collaboration as they practice new skills and incorporate them into their daily practice.
Coaching is typically a long-term relationship, allowing for leaders to ensure long-term maintenance of their skills as well as explore new challenges that often arise as behaviors change.
Consultation
Our consultation services focus on providing organizations with the guidance and best practices for developing inclusive cultures. We work collaboratively with the leadership within organizations to identify specific, measurable objectives and help create and implement action plans to ensure objectives are reached.
Consultation services may be ongoing or project-based, depending on the specific needs and interests of the organizations. Our specific expertise areas include:
- Policies and Procedures
- Performance Management Systems
- Strategic Planning
- Increasing Diversity within the Workforce
- Creating Diversity and Inclusion Committees
- Development of Inclusive Vision, Mission, and Values
Assessment
All initiatives should begin with assessment. Assessments identifies the current state of the organization and what areas should be prioritized to reach projected goals.
Our Diversity & Inclusion assessments investigate various aspects of company culture to determine the range of diversite and level of inclusion throughout the organization. Leaders can choose for us to to conduct a comprehensive organizational assessment or to focus on a specific area of the organization.
Common areas of focus include:
- Policies and Procedures
- Interactions between leaders and followers
- Team dynamics
- Recruitment and Hiring practices
- Promotional practices
- Performance management
- Systems analysis
Training
We use a behavior analytic evidence-based training model, shown to be the best way to increase practice of skills in daily activities. Our interactive model provides participants with demonstrations of targeted skills and concepts as well as opportunities to practice and receive feedback on their own implementation.
Our trainings cover a wide variety of topics and are specifically designed based on the unique needs of our clients. Current topics include:
- Creating and Sustaining Diverse and Inclusive Workplaces
- Inclusive Communication
- Inclusive Leadership
- Anti-Bullying and Harassment
- Bias, Microagressions, and Inclusion
- Equity and Inclusion
Want to advance your learning? Take one of our e-courses!
We develop leaders, create inclusive environments, and strengthen organizational health to ensure the success and sustainability of people-focused organizations using the science of behavior.
We offer courses in the areas of Diversity & Inclusion, Leadership, and Organizational Development.
Listen to one of our podcasts!
OBM Business Hour
In this podcast, the hosts, Amanda Barnett, Kyle Ditzian, and Natalie Parks, discuss how to solve everyday organizational problems using the behavior of science. They cover all things business from issues of training and interview faux pas to safety and inclusion issues. The hosts provide a relaxed, engaging podcast that leaves listeners with excellent information and action items that can be taken today to start solving their problems.
Inclusion Junkie
Inclusion doesn't just make organizations run more smoothly and more profitable, but it actually leads to people living better lives. Places of inclusion are those where the people present are welcomed, highly valued, and energized. From basic definitions to clear and immediate actions, the hosts Natalie Parks, Paul Peebles, and Mason Washington dive into the difficult topics providing listeners with realistic ways they can work to make their organizations more inclusive.