By Dr. Gaddis J. Faulcon
One of the most daunting and greatest challenges facing organizations is influencing all
employees to embrace diversity and inclusion.
Some organizations have done a fair job in creating diversity. However, almost all organizations will benefit if they do a better job of diversity and an even better job of inclusion. Inclusion must also mean creating an environment in which all people feel included, valued, involved, respected, and have a sense of belonging.
Inclusion means that people actually feel involved. They feel, “This is our organization, our college or university.” Great leaders and influencers have the ability to demonstrate a commitment to diversity and inclusion. Great influencers do more that talk about diversity and inclusion. They make diversity and inclusion a strategic priority.
Great leaders know that diversity and inclusion is a bottom-line success strategy. It’s a business imperative. Ideally, great leaders see diversity and inclusion as moral issues, which means diversity and Inclusion must become a core value of any successful organization.
Great business CEOs, college chancellors and presidents with vision will see diversity and
inclusion as an advantage. Great leaders will see diversity and inclusion as a strategic
opportunity and opt to make it one of their top priorities.