Reprinted, by Amy Dufrane, Ed.D., SPHR, CAE – HRCI, CEO
Appealing to a global market has never been more vital to a company’s success. And thriving in a global market increasingly requires a global workforce.
The state of the global workforce is promising, but there’s still a lot of progress to make: 90% of global employees rate their companies as diverse, but 30% don’t feel a sense of inclusion or belonging. Here’s how you can build self-awareness around diversity and inclusion in your workplace.
- Foster cultural intelligence. All companies must facilitate inclusive and respectful interactions. Start with your own cultural intelligence to raise self-awareness. How has your culture informed your expectations at work? Have you made any assumptions about someone else’s work ethic that might have come from your own culture?
- Define big picture concepts. A global workforce will encounter tension between a centralized corporate location and individual regional offices. One of HR’s most crucial roles is navigating paradox to support decision-making. Look at your company’s values. Do they provide enough of a framework that a regional office could interpret them without changing or diluting them?
- Lead with empathy. Empathy is vital in cultivating inclusion, especially in a global workforce. Look at some of your current policies and processes. Are they putting a particular group at a disadvantage? How can you create more equitable, empathetic policies at your workplace?
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