Introduction
3 critical skills needed for leadership in an increasingly diverse workplace. Diversity is a complex topic, and the workplace is no exception. While we like to think of ourselves as an open-minded and accepting society, many biases still exist in our day-to-day lives that prevent us from truly understanding people who are different. In this article, I’ll discuss three critical skills needed for leadership in an increasingly diverse workplace: recognising your bias, understanding your role as an ally for others, and communicating effectively with all types of people.
Recognise your own bias.
Recognising your biases is the first step to becoming a more inclusive leader. This can be hard, but it is essential to create an environment where all employees feel comfortable sharing their ideas and being themselves.
To recognise your own bias:
- Understand how it affects others by asking yourself questions like “am I excluding someone based on their gender/race/age?” and “how does my behaviour make others feel?”
- Learn about the biases that exist in society today so that you can better understand them (e.g., unconscious bias) and how they may affect people differently depending on factors like race or gender identity.”
Understand your role in helping others thrive.
You should also be aware of your role in helping others thrive. For diversity to be successful, everyone needs to feel safe and respected. This means that leaders must be inclusive and nonjudgmental, which can sometimes be challenging.
Some ways that you can become more inclusive include:
- Understanding the importance of diversity in the workplace;
- Learning about how different groups are impacted by unconscious bias;
- Being open-minded when communicating with people from different backgrounds, and
- Creating a safe space for those from diverse backgrounds to share their ideas or concerns (and ensuring they know it’s okay).
Be a good communicator.
- Be a good communicator. Applying emotional intelligence as a leader in a diverse workplace is crucial.
- Listening and communicating clearly, and efficiently are all essential skills for leaders in an increasingly diverse workplace. A leader who can’t listen effectively won’t be able to understand their employees’ needs or concerns, nor will they be able to communicate those needs back up the chain of command in a meaningful way that results in change at the top leadership level (if necessary). In addition, speaking confidently about what you need from your team–and why–is crucial for getting buy-in from others who might otherwise resist your ideas or suggestions.
Learn to overcome your biases, be an ally for others, and communicate effectively.
- Recognise your own bias. Being aware of your preferences is the first step to overcoming them. You can’t change what you don’t know, and if you don’t recognise a problem, it will be harder for you to solve it. For example, if someone brings up an issue with how they’re being treated at work or in the office environment, ask yourself if there could be any truth in what they’re saying before dismissing their concerns outright.
- Understand your role in helping others thrive: As leaders, we must create safe spaces where people from all backgrounds can feel comfortable expressing themselves without fear of judgment or retribution from co-workers or supervisors, including holding others accountable when necessary.* Be a good communicator: Communication is vital not only with team members but also with clients/customers (both internal and external). It’s essential for leaders not only because practical communication skills help build trust between members but also because they allow teams to work together more efficiently while maintaining accountability throughout each stage of production
Bottom Line
Leadership is a complex skill that requires a great deal of thought and practice. If you’re looking to become a leader, knowing what skills are needed in today’s workplace is important – especially if you want to lead a diverse team. In addition, understanding other cultures will be crucial for success as the world becomes more globalised and multicultural.
Who am I?
I am Dotun Adeoye, a Business Growth Strategist & Author
I’ve built up my experience via serial entrepreneurship, consulting leadership roles in business growth, business development and product innovation in large companies worldwide in the last 30 years.
Today, I consult with large businesses on how to sustainably grow their businesses, sustain infinite growth, and ensure business continuity irrespective of the business climate.
Hire Dotun Adeoye to Speak Virtually or In – Person at your company’s event to cover this or other topics. You can also get in touch via +44 203 097 1718 or dotun at dotunadeoye.com
