Six Traits of an Inclusive Leader to Help Them Succeed
A seasoned sales professional, Maya works at a well-known tech company where diversity and inclusion are buzzwords. However, the ground reality is far from perfect. Despite having a diverse workforce on paper, her experiences make her feel otherwise.
Maya has incredible sales expertise in the field. However, her immediate boss, Alex, constantly undermines her. He refuses to consider her perspective and opinions when making critical business decisions.
Maya also notices that Alex mistreats employees from minority backgrounds, and their voices are often unheard in essential decision-making processes. She feels undervalued and demotivated every day at work. Like other employees who felt similarly, Maya decided to quit the organization.
Barely 5% of leaders globally can be defined as inclusive, and Alex is one of them. If Alex had been an inclusive leader, he could have retained some of the best talent within his organization, such as Maya. This scenario highlights the importance of inclusive leadership and how it can help nurture a culture of inclusiveness, leading to employee satisfaction, motivation, high employee engagement, and retention rates.
In this article, we will explore the importance of inclusive leadership and the traits of an inclusive leader in the workplace. Before we explore the six traits of inclusive leadership, let's understand why inclusive leadership is essential. Let’s get started!
Why Is Inclusive Leadership Important?
Most organizations have a common question – is inclusive leadership really important? Many studies have explored how inclusivity can influence business outcomes. However, they have all arrived at the same conclusion – diversity and inclusivity are good for organizational growth and success. A study by Deloitte revealed that an organization that nurtures an inclusive culture will be able to:
2x as likely to meet or exceed their financial goals
3x as likely to be high-performing
6x as likely to be adaptive and innovative
8x more likely to achieve better business outcomes
When inclusive leaders create a culture of belonging where all employees feel respected, supported, and empowered, they tend to perform to their fullest potential, eventually contributing to achieving and surpassing business goals. Let us understand the qualities of an inclusive leader that will help facilitate a culture of inclusivity.
6 Signature Traits of Inclusive Leadership
American author Kenneth Blanchard once said, “The key to successful leadership today is influence, not authority.” A true leader must be able to influence others and lead them on the path to success. However, a leader must be on the path of inclusivity to lead their team or organization towards the same. Here are six signature traits of inclusive leaders that one must adopt to promote a culture of inclusivity:
Cognizance
Cognizance is an inclusive leadership trait that refers to leaders' self-awareness and understanding of their implicit biases. They must be aware of these biases' potential impact on their decision-making and interactions with team members. While recognizing their own implicit biases, inclusive leaders must realize that everyone has unconscious biases and encourage their employees to work on them actively.
Moreover, cognizant leaders must understand the importance of creating an environment where diverse perspectives are valued and encouraged, ensuring all team members feel seen, heard, and respected. They can promote an inclusive culture by encouraging their team members to:
Reflect continuously on their decisions and interactions to identify biases affecting their judgment.
Actively consider diverse perspectives to enable fair and unbiased decisions.
Establish processes to minimize the impact of biases in hiring, promotions, and everyday business interactions.
Curiosity
According to Forbes, 83% of C-suite executives and more than half of employees believe curiosity sparks positive organizational change. One of the most essential inclusive leadership qualities is curiosity. Inclusive leaders must be inherently curious about different perspectives and life experiences. They must actively seek new ideas and be open to learning from those around them. By being curious, leaders become willing to challenge their assumptions and embrace continuous learning.
As an inclusive leader, one must cultivate a culture of curiosity to create opportunities to exchange unique insights that can lead to better problem-solving and more creative solutions. Here is how leaders can encourage curiosity among their teams:
Frequently ask open-ended questions to understand different viewpoints and experiences.
Create an environment where team members feel safe to explore new ideas and challenge the status quo.
Commit to continuous learning about diverse cultures, histories, and experiences different from their own.
Cultural Intelligence
A recent research reported that 76% of senior leaders need more cultural intelligence. However, cultural intelligence is one of the most essential characteristics of an inclusive leader. It refers to the capability to relate to and work with people from different cultural backgrounds. Inclusive leaders must possess high cultural intelligence, allowing them to navigate cultural differences in the workplace with sensitivity and respect.
Leaders with strong cultural intelligence can build diverse teams, enabling an inclusive environment where everyone feels valued and understood. They can also promote cultural competence within their organization, ensuring that diversity is celebrated and utilized for business growth and success. Adopting this inclusive leadership trait within the organization involves:
Encouraging employees to invest time in learning about different cultures and their nuances.
Tailoring communication styles to be respectful and effective across diverse cultural contexts.
Utilizing the strengths of diverse team members to promote collaboration and innovation.
Collaboration
Collaboration is an inclusive leadership characteristic that forms the foundation of inclusivity. Inclusive leaders must prioritize teamwork and actively work towards creating a collaborative workplace where each employee’s opinions are considered and valued. They must also encourage open communication, share information freely, and involve team members in decision-making.
Inclusive leaders must also ensure everyone feels they have a stake in the team's success by encouraging a sense of shared purpose and mutual respect. Moreover, leaders must encourage team members to work together towards common goals to allow them to trust each other and build a strong work rapport. Inclusive leaders can create a collaborative environment by:
Encouraging a team-oriented approach where everyone’s contributions are recognized.
Creating spaces for open and honest communication, ensuring all voices are heard.
Identifying and utilizing the unique strengths of each team member to achieve collective success.
Courage
In the words of a wise Buddhist monk, Chan Master Fuchan Yuan, “There are three essentials to leadership—humility, courage, and clarity.” Courage is one crucial inclusive leadership quality. A leader who lacks courage cannot challenge the status quo and stand up to the injustices within their organization. A true and inclusive leader will challenge the status quo, speak up against discrimination, and advocate for minorities within their organizations.
While creating an inclusive environment may involve difficult conversations and decisions, inclusive leaders must be committed to doing what is right. Another aspect of this inclusive leadership trait is being open to feedback and willing to make changes based on that feedback. Here is how leaders can create a more inclusive and equitable workplace:
Question existing practices and policies within the organization that may be exclusionary or biased.
Speak out against discriminatory practices and implicit bias, advocating for inclusive practices.
Hold themselves accountable for their mistakes and learn from them, setting an example for their team.
Commitment
A fundamental leadership trait is the constant commitment and dedication to the growth and success of the organization. An inclusive leader must be committed to making their workplace inclusive for all their team members. They must be dedicated to inculcating an inclusive culture and be relentless in their efforts to drive change. Inclusive leaders must recognize that building an inclusive workplace is an ongoing journey and remain steadfast in their dedication to this mission. Here is how leaders can stay committed to their diversity and inclusivity goals:
Establish and communicate evident diversity and inclusion objectives for the organization.
Regularly track and assess the progress towards these goals, making adjustments as necessary.
Recognize and celebrate achievements in diversity and inclusion, reinforcing their importance.
While we have listed the traits of an inclusive leader in the workplace, this list is not exhaustive. When you become a leader, the learning never ends. So, roll up your sleeves today and embark on your journey to become a leader who influences, inspires, and values each one of your employees!
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FAQs
What are the 6Cs of inclusive leadership?
The 6Cs of inclusive leadership refer to cognizance, curiosity, cultural intelligence, collaboration, courage, and commitment. These are essential traits of an inclusive leader, and every leader must work towards developing them.
What practical steps can a leader take to become more inclusive?
To become more inclusive, leaders can take practical steps such as actively seeking and valuing diverse perspectives, providing equal opportunities for all team members, and creating a safe environment for open dialogue. This includes regular DEI training, mentorship programs, and transparent communication.
Some inclusive leadership examples include respecting each other’s religious and cultural practices without bias, approaching gender and sexuality with sensitivity, and making accommodations for the physically challenged.
