We love to talk about ‘inclusion in the workplace’, but what are the practical things that we can do to make sure that everyone feels included? 

Inclusion In Decision-Making

When making organisational decisions, invite everyone to participate where possible, especially where the outcome of the decision has a bearing on that individual. It doesn’t have to be every decision, but getting staff involved in some key discussions can give them a sense of empowerment and involvement.

Even just a survey across the workplace can help, as long as people feel that their opinion counts for something.

Make sure to provide a personal response to any thoughts or ideas they put forward.

Mention Them Publicly

Mentioning someone by name is a great way to make them feel included and recognized. This can be done in things like team meetings, emails, and company-wide announcements.

All it takes is for their name to be mentioned once every month or two so that they know that they aren’t invisible. 

Once You Mention One Person, Mention Everyone

Be careful though – once you have set the precedent of mentioning people by name, those not mentioned will become even more aware of it and will be watching out for their name; if they aren’t mentioned at some point they will feel actively excluded.

So make sure to mention everyone at some point, not just one person.

Try keeping a list of names and crossing them off as you go. It may seem a little cynical, but as long as the mentions are for something genuine, the result will be genuine.

Part of you may object to this because you want to praise the people who are getting the best results or offering the best service. But the purpose of the inclusion mentions is to engage and enthuse your staff more – and they are more likely to go the extra mile or be more enthusiastic with customers when they feel like they are seen.

Formal Socializing

How much do you really know about your co-workers?

A weekly social event or activity at lunch time, where everyone is expected to attend can be a great way for people to get to know each other outside of the office environment.

This can be done through things like team lunches, happy hours, and company-wide events. It’s important that these events are inclusive and welcoming to all, so make sure to invite everyone.

We recently ran a series of ‘lunch and learns’ with a company and the staff loved it so much that they are continuing to run a weekly lunchtime social get together!

Informal Socializing

Just asking questions about people’s lives and really listening to the answer can make a big difference. Be aware of who you are spending your time with – we tend to gravitate towards people who are similar to us, but this can lead to cliques forming.

Try to spend time with people who are different from you, and deliberately include others in the conversation.

The Importance of Active Listening

Active listening is key to making sure that everyone feels heard and included. It involves being present and fully engaged with the person speaking, and making an effort to understand their perspective. When we are distracted, not paying attention, waiting for them to finish etc, we are demonstrating that we don’t care about what they have to say. This can make them feel excluded and unimportant.

Invite Them To Everything

Inviting someone to everything is a great way to make them feel included, even if you know they won’t want to come. This can be done by things like sending them a calendar invite for every meeting, including them in social events, and copying them on all relevant emails. 

Remember Things About Them

Remembering things about someone is a great way to make them feel included and valued. This can be done by things like remembering their birthday, their favourite food, or something they’ve been working on. It is especially valuable to remember key things that they have mentioned – because those are the things that are important to them – such as a family member who is unwell, a recent experience they had or the fact that they are house hunting.

If you want to be really efficient at this – keep notes. Again, this may seem too organised, but, if you are anything like me, I find it very difficult to keep track of my own life, let alone other people’s!