Steps To Begin or Advance Your DEIA Strategy

 Step 1: Increase Knowledge and Skills of Leadership Team

●       Develop formal practices and policies for how your business identifies, prioritizes and operationalizes DEIA.

●       Equip the leadership team with essential knowledge and skills to drive the DEIA initiative.

●       Understand diversity's impact on the organization's culture.

●       Recognize instances of bias and discrimination and address them.

●       Differentiate between equality and equity.

●       Safeguard inclusion of diversity in the workplace culture.

●       Learn to interrupt implicit bias.

●       Research industry best practices for DEIA and workplace culture.

●       Commit to action and establish an implementation timeline.

Step 2: Define Why DEIA Is Important to Your Company

●       Establish a strong foundation for DEIA by identifying its importance to your company's goals.

●       Analyze the current state of DEIA in your organization, including diversity levels, employee development, retention, and talent attraction.

●       Gather input from internal and external stakeholders through focus groups.

●       Pinpoint the company's DEIA focus and align it with the mission statement.

●       Develop a communication plan to secure buy-in from all levels of the organization.                              

●       Provide DEIA education and training across the company. Develop a training program that includes topics such as unconscious bias, microaggressions, and cultural competence. The training should be mandatory for all employees and provided on an ongoing basis.

Step 3: Synchronize How Your Company Will Organize DEIA Efforts

●       Organize DEIA efforts across the company by focusing on three key areas: workforce, workplace, and marketplace.

●       Research DEIA framework examples[1]  and choose one that fits your company best.

●       Start with small actions that reflect your company's commitment to DEIA.

●       Foster collaboration and accountability among all stakeholders.

●       Establish and clarify DEIA terminology and build a shared language in the workplace.

●       Communicate DEIA initiatives and importance across the organization.

Step 4: Build A DEIA Plan on How to Achieve the Company’s Vision

●       Draft a comprehensive DEIA strategic plan that outlines the company's commitment, goals, and objectives.

●       Engage key stakeholders to align all areas of work with DEIA strategies.

●       Ensure transparency and accountability by determining metrics to measure progress.

●       Create an internal implementation plan and rollout schedule.

●       Communicate the DEIA plan and its implementation across the organization.

●       Actively monitor outcomes and progress using established metrics.

By following these steps, your company can effectively promote diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility, fostering a more inclusive and supportive workplace environment. Let's work together to make positive changes for everyone involved.