Workplace culture is the synergy of shared values, belief systems, attitudes, and sensibilities among co-workers. And the key to a positive workplace culture, very simply, is leadership that prioritizes inclusion.

In this moment of unprecedented collective social consciousness, no leader can ignore the increasingly pervasive call for organizations to establish inclusive cultures that realize broader imperatives around equity and provide a supportive environment for individual employees to work and thrive. 

But where do you even begin? What if such efforts make you personally uncomfortable and/or trigger reluctance?  What if things feel confusing, awkward, overwhelming, or stressful along the way? And what if you stumble as you strive toward your ideal culture? Resistance is the best starting point.

Certain aspects of your organization’s culture may be readily apparent, identifiable, and easy to articulate. And others, subtle undercurrents are difficult to discern. Inclusive leadership development involves taking a closer look at what unspoken cultural norms are operating behind the scenes and below the surface. Some of these can become entrenched unless identified and lifted from the shadows of assumptions.  

If all this sounds intriguing yet unnerving, you are ready to start!  The idea is to be open, alert, and poised to address those unspoken norms, including perfectionism, that stand in the way of you moving forward. Your journey in inclusive leadership begins–and continues to unfold–as you embrace uncertainty and imperfections.