December 21, 2020
Hallie Moberg Brauer
Associate Consultant
ADR Consulting Group LLC.
With New Year’s resolutions in full swing this January, striving to create the most productive and inclusive work environment for your company is an admirable goal for 2021, especially since many work environments have shifted over the last year.
An excellent place to start, as you seek to improve the inclusivity of your workplace, is to craft a diversity statement for your organization. While creating this statement may seem straightforward, we encourage you to think critically about what your organization believes in as it relates to diversity, inclusion, and equity. This statement may seem simple, but can truly work to transform your business and working environment if crafted and executed with thoughtful intention.
Let’s start at the beginning: What is a diversity statement?
A diversity statement is a written, published expression of the values of your business related to diversity, inclusion, and equity. The statement pertains to all stakeholders, employees, customers, and other valuable human assets. It creates guiding principles for the people of the organization to follow as it relates to creating and maintaining an inclusive and equitable workplace.
With this answer in mind: Why is a diversity statement important for your organization to have?
Having a diversity statement is the best way to publicly articulate your commitment to the values of diversity, equity and inclusion for all stakeholders and customers to understand. Making a public and widely known statement about the ideals your company holds in esteem allows for all people to know that you and your employees strive to meet high standards. It also provides a clear way to hold yourselves accountable to making your workplace and company as inclusive and equitable as possible. This speaks to consumers who wish to support businesses of integrity. And going one step beyond that, having your commitment to diversity and inclusion publicly available serves to recruit the best talent to your organization, as potential employees seek companies with the highest standards and will inevitably be attracted to yours. Creating a diversity statement will yield a stronger, more successful business.
Now that you have decided to craft a diversity statement for your business: What else is there to consider?
When writing a diversity statement, it's important to be thoughtful and intentional. Creating a substandard statement can create pitfalls that yield more problems than they solve. Be sure to incorporate your entire team in the creation of the statement, as it is meant to be for and used by all people in your organization. This process may look different for different businesses, but it’s worth taking the time and the effort. Writing an intentional and productive diversity statement may not be something your business can do on its own- it may be useful to recruit some professionals to help you make the most of the process.
If you find yourself overwhelmed by the prospect of writing a diversity statement, but committed to making it happen, please consider reaching out to a professional consulting company. Wondering if your business needs and diversity and inclusion consultant? Always remember ADR Consulting LLC is available to be a resource to you as you embark on this important process.
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