These 5 impacts of diversity, equity, and inclusion should help integrators understand why DEI is a business priority.
Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in the workplace is good for business. It brings better ideas and solutions. It helps all employees succeed and grow in their careers.
There are five reasons why DEI for integrators is important.
1. The Workforce Is Changing, and Workplaces Must Change with It
By 2045, there will be no racial majority. The demographic makeup of the United States is changing rapidly, with the 2020 census showing that the white, non-Hispanic population decreased from 63.7% in 2010 to 57.8% in 2020.
Racial and ethnic groups are responsible for generating overall growth; Latinx or Hispanic, Asian American, and Black groups grew by 20%, 29%, and 8.5%, respectively. The population of people who are two or more races is projected to be the fastest-growing racial or ethnic group over the next several decades.
In addition to that, 61 million U.S. adults live with a disability, and 15.9% of Gen Zers entering the workforce identify as LGTBQIA+. The world is changing. If your organization isn’t keeping up, then you will fall behind.
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2. Talent Should Align with What Your Brand Stands For
Are you facing a talent shortage? If you’re not prioritizing DEI in your organization’s culture, then you’re missing an incredible value-add. In fact, 80% of employees say they want to work for a company that values diversity, equity, and inclusion. Employees experience inclusion at work when they feel valued, trusted, authentic, and psychologically safe.
How you show up on your website, the words you include on your job descriptions, the pictures you use, and the organizations you support all make a difference to the talent you’re looking for—and the talent you’re trying to keep. Take a look at how your talent is represented across your efforts and create transparency around your commitment and culture of inclusion.
3. Consumers Want to Buy from Companies that Do More
When pursuing DEI efforts, it’s important to think about activity vs. impact. What results or changes are your activities producing? While your intent may be to show that you care, consumers and employees want to see the tangible changes that come from your communicated commitments.
In fact, consumers want to buy from brands that stand for something and are dedicated to making an impact. According to a survey from Aflac, 77% of consumers are motivated to buy from companies committed to making the world a better place.
Think about how your brand shows up online. Do you have your DEI commitment posted on your website? Are you donating your time or money to nonprofits or movements that serve an underrepresented group? Are your employees included in your commitment? If what you’re sharing externally doesn’t match what you’re doing internally, then your employees will lose trust. Make sure you transform your organization from the inside out.
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4. Diversity Is a Strategic Business Advantage
Multiple studies have shown that a more diverse workforce can help companies create better products. In fact, 66% of companies with diversity in senior leadership have experienced a 42% increase in return on sales. Additionally, 70% of businesses are more likely to capture a new market.
Diversity is the key ingredient for reducing group think and allowing multiple perspectives to be brought to the table. Problems are solved faster, teams are more productive, and decisions are thought through more thoroughly. Organizations can maximize these benefits by cultivating “diversity mindsets,” which include cultural intelligence, openness to different ideas and experiences, multicultural experiences, and more.
5. It’s Our Social Responsibility as Employers
As an organization, you have an opportunity to make an impact on the world and elevate humanity. We’re all in this together to make the world a better place. It’s time to do your part.
Don’t know where to start? As an NSCA Member Advisory Councilmember, we can help. livingHR’s approach is about transformation, creating unity, and a true sense of belonging for all.
We build on the current state of your organization to create a relevant starting point for growth. Considering learning at the individual and team levels, we map opportunities across the entire employee experience and build customized solutions. Using data discovery, workshops, leadership development, conversation cohorts, and applied learning tools, we ensure that our work is immersive, is actionable, and will resonate beyond any one session or interaction to truly transform diversity, equity, and inclusion within your organization.
Natasha Getler-Porizkova is senior leader, brand inclusion, at livingHR, an NSCA Member Advisory Councilmember that works with integrators to better reflect diversity, equity, and inclusion in their company culture.
