The Business Why for D.E.I.

Written By: Lauren Pflug, Senior Digital Content Strategist, Blueprint Evolution

D.E.I. (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) has become a well-known acronym in the business world. We are seeing organizations outsource D.E.I. experts to assist them in auditing their practices and systems. This is a good thing, but should be done for the right intentions and not just because it’s something you should do because “they” say so. Running an inclusive business is important because operating from a human-centered approach is a good business plan.

D.E.I. is good for your team, and for your business.

In case you need a refresher, there is a difference between diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Diversity is the presence of different humans, from different walks of life, with different experiences.

Inclusion is making sure that all of these humans not only feel a sense of belonging in the workplace, but making sure they feel valued for the unique differences they bring to the table. Inclusion ensures all humans are an integral part of the system they are part of, not just add-ons to an existing system.

In a separate BE blog, the difference between diversity and inclusion is illustrated in a perfect way:

“Imagine you are invited to a party.

You receive the invitation and feel excited. Excitement quickly changes to hesitation. The person who invited you is friends with your friend group and you realize the invitation is out of courtesy. You are invited because you are friends with the right people.

You visualize yourself walking into the party. While you know it’s ok to be there, you also can’t help but feel no one genuinely cares if you came or not, if you stay, or when you leave.

Imagine you were invited to another party.

You receive the invitation and feel excited. Excitement becomes appreciation when the invitation asks if you have any dietary restrictions and music requests.

You imagine yourself walking into the party with ease because you don’t have to worry if there will be food for you to eat, and grateful you will get to enjoy some of the songs played. You are content knowing your presence matters, people are excited to see you, and you know they will be sad to see you go. You were considered. It feels good to go where you are wanted, right?” (Iannucci, A.)

Diversity is being invited to the party, whereas inclusion is being invited and knowing you’re wanted, appreciated and your needs are intentionally considered AND met.

A diverse organization does not automatically equal an inclusive one, and it is important to know that there is intentional work that needs to be done to fill the space between.

This is where equity comes in. Equity is ensuring that regardless of differences, everyone has the same capability to achieve the intended outcome.

Equity balances the imbalance of access and power. It is ensuring that there are systems and practices in place that make the playing field fair. You need equitable practices in place to make diverse spaces inclusive.

So, aside from fostering environments that uphold and support all your employees, why is D.E.I. good for business?

Well, simply put, inclusive organizations with equitable practices in place see greater outcomes. Research shows that inclusivity directly enhances performance. Additionally, businesses with inclusive leadership are 29% more likely to report behaving collaboratively (Harvard Business Review).

There are endless statistics showing that valued employees are happier, will perform better, be more loyal to their employers, and work more efficiently.

Employees receiving regular recognition are 4x as likely to be engaged with their work and 5x as likely to feel connected to their workplace culture (Workhuman).

If you’ve been paying attention, this all comes full circle. Everything is connected.

D.E.I. is good for business because valued employees are good for business. Aside from the performance aspect, happy employees are far less likely to stop caring, quit, or be looking elsewhere for work. The issue at hand is that the majority of the workforce right now isn’t happy. In 2021, most employees quit their jobs because they didn’t feel cared for by their leaders (McKinsey Survey).

Currently, 59% of global employees are quiet quitting; they are putting the minimal amount of effort into their work as possible because they don’t feel valued or cared for. They’re giving the same treatment that they’re receiving.

Plain and simple, this is bad for business. In 2022, this behavior from unhappy employees cost the global economy $9 trillion (Gallup). Between the quiet quitters (rightfully) pulling back their efforts, and the time, labor, and money being put into hiring and talent acquisition, there are countless resources (money) being wasted. On the contrary, having inclusive spaces and equitable practices in business will always lead to profits and gains across the board.

It seems as if many large organizations believe that the practices they’ve always used are their best practices and this is just not true. These outdated business practices and refusal to evolve with time and culture will cost you money; they already have been.

By investing in your employees, you are investing in your business. Ensuring inclusive work spaces, equitable practices, and overall employee well-being will bring more success to your business.

Full stop.

D.E.I. is not just a political hot topic. If you are refusing these changes, you are not ‘taking a stance’, you are costing your organization money. And it will not get better. We have entered an era where employees know they deserve better treatment and are challenging their leaders to rise to the occasion. Businesses must start operating from a human-centered approach– if they don’t, it’s likely they won’t survive.

The good news is it’s not too late, and there are solutions for organizational change that support both the employee and the employer. This is Blueprint’s bread and butter; we love a good challenge. Blueprint Evolution exists to support companies through challenging transitions. We are here to help you navigate the changing landscape in ways that feel achievable, inclusive, and true to your organization’s values and mission. It’s okay if you feel lost, or all of this seems complicated, but it doesn’t have to.

At Blueprint, we take the time to learn about your organization and meet you where you are to help you evolve honestly, efficiently, and sustainably. We build relationships with you because we recognize every leader is different, every organization is unique, and one size does not fit all. Everyone needs something different, and we are driven by learning these needs, your exact areas of concern and areas of growth, and solutions that will work for your specific communities.

We take pride in our approach by bringing patience, kindness, understanding, and even levity to these seemingly heavy topics and complicated conversations. We’re here to guide you and your team in bridging the gaps and helping your communities evolve and change in ways that meet the current market’s demands and anticipate future trends to create thriving workforces.

Let us help you win.

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