Why should you, as a leader, initiate - and actively participate in - a development program?
There are many good reasons to build leaders’ understanding of diversity and inclusion: avoiding discrimination and fraud, improving teamwork, increasing innovation, and creating a more sustainable workplace and society. The challenge is knowing how. Fear of saying the wrong thing or making a misstep often overshadows opportunities to act. At LEAD, we develop leadership programs that help leaders take meaningful action.
Common triggers for launching a development program include:
Unconscious bias:
This can lead to biased decisions in hiring and promotions, hindering diversity and inclusion at work.
Lack of representation:
This makes it difficult to attract and retain employees. Leaders must break the self-reinforcing cycle of underrepresentation so DEI goals become a reality.
Resistance to change:
New policies or initiatives promoting diversity and inclusion may face resistance. It’s important to recognize that a lack of leadership support creates a barrier to overcoming this resistance.
