How to create an inclusive culture in five steps

There are two u’s in the word culture and we need to embrace and celebrate difference if our organisations are to thrive, says author Sid Madge.

Creating a culture that allows for enquiry and exploration is surely better for us as individuals, as businesses and as collectives. Everyone matters, regardless of who we are or where we come from or where we are heading. There are 6,909 languages spoken in the world and an astonishing 3,814 distinct cultures. That’s a whole world of diversity and difference that needs celebrating and embracing.

I always feel there’s a clue in the word to help us find the meaning. The first thing I noticed about the word ‘culture’ is that there are two ‘u’s’. The first ‘u’ represents you the individual, your knowledge, beliefs, customs, capabilities and habits. The second ‘u’ is everyone else within your group be that family or at work.

Below are five great ways to create a nurturing, supportive and inclusive culture so we can all shine, individually and collectively:

1. Celebrate Difference

In his book The Wisdom of Crowds, author James Surowiecki states that at the heart of collective intelligence is a “mathematical truism”. If we ask a large enough group of diverse, independent people to make a prediction or estimate a probability, and then average those estimates, the errors each of them makes in coming up with an answer will cancel themselves out.

In other words, if we celebrate difference and seek input from a diverse set of independent people, we will always get a better result than we would get by consulting the same type of people or a small set of ‘experts’.

This is counterintuitive because we’ve come to revere the expert, but difference and diversity is where it’s at. No one is smart enough to know everything, but everyone is smart enough to know everything. Together we all add something of value, so we see more of the issue and come up with better solutions.

We should celebrate our own difference, whatever that may be. And we should also make space for difference and diversity in all our cultures. Let’s celebrate the wonderful diversity we have in our companies and the world. Embrace difference as a learning tool.

Take a minute to think of the last time you met someone from a different country or background – how did you react? We can all learn from each other.

We get what we are willing to settle for. The only way to create a better culture is to stop accepting the one we currently inhabit and ask for something better.

2. Don’t be Afraid to Ask

One of the quirks of adulthood is we stop asking. We stop asking questions because we don’t want to look like we don’t know the answer and we stop asking for what we want. This shouldn’t be some selfish temper tantrum, but we all have the right to be in a place that is nurturing and supportive and to speak up when it’s not.

Culture isn’t changed overnight, it is often a much slower process that comes about when lots of other ‘u’s’ start to speak up. Mental health is now being taken seriously in business and beyond because people started to speak up and ask for support. They raised the issues and kept raising the issues.

There is an adage that we get what we expect. But I’d go further: we get what we are willing to settle for. The only way to create a better culture is to stop accepting the one we currently inhabit and ask for something better.

Take a minute to think about the culture of your workplace. What stands out about this culture? Is there something specific that really bothers you? If so, speak up. Decide to stop accepting it, and lead by example.

3. Embrace Change

The greater we are at adapting to change, the richer our lives become. I’m often asked how I deal with change and have been called a change expert. To me I accept what is, and I adapt to what is happening without trying to fight it. The more we resist the more things tend to persist.

As adults, we must become much more comfortable with failure. It’s the same issue as our unwillingness to ask. Stanford psychologist Carol Dweck refers to the differences as the growth and fixed mindset.

Children naturally have a growth mindset: they try, fail, try again and ask a million questions about everything. Adults try, fail and cover up any attempt they even tried and refuse to ask anything in case they look foolish. The kids have it right.

Take a minute to think about the last time you resisted change at work? How did it turn out? Do you have a growth mindset or a fixed mindset? Change is inevitable, so we may as well embrace it and enjoy the journey, and the benefits.

4. Be the Best ‘u’ You can Be

Always give your utmost and fully turn up in whatever you are doing. Athletes often say: trust the process and the outcomes will sort themselves. In other words, just do the work, be the person you want to be, hold yourself to a higher standard and the results will follow as surely as night follows day. We can’t always control the outcome.

Everything is always changing around us, but we always have control over what we do in that change and who we are. Sure, sometimes we will do our best and it still won’t work out, but there is still a quiet satisfaction to be gained from knowing we did all we could.

No two paths are the same and everyone’s path to happiness, greatness or whatever your ness is, is different. But there are constants: perseverance, passion and principles.

Take a minute to think about the last week. Can you point to at least one example where you were your best self? The more we demand that of ourselves the quicker cultures at work will change around us.

5. Be More Bilbo

I recently lost my best friend Bilbo, a 12 and half year-old Springer Spaniel. Often people who have never had a dog find it difficult to understand the devastation of losing a pet, but he really was my best friend. He never complained, growled or moaned, he just lived life to the full. He was always happy to meet new people and saw the best in everyone. Everyone was a friend he just hadn’t sniffed yet. He was welcoming and loving every morning and was content with the simple things – a nice tennis ball, a walk on the beach or a cosy snuggle.

The feeling I have for him is one of absolute admiration, respect and love. He was joy itself and my life is far emptier without him. Although I’m incredibly sad right now, I am also so grateful he shared his life with me. And I’ve vowed to Be More Bilbo from here on in.

Take a minute to think about how the culture you work in makes you feel? How, in the course of your day, do you make others feel? Are you uplifting and supportive, or grumpy and demanding? How are you contributing to a positive or negative culture at work? Be More Bilbo.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Sid Madge is a transformation and change specialist and founder of Meee. Meee draws on the best creativity and thinking from the worlds of branding, psychology, neuroscience, education and sociology, to help people embrace change and achieve extraordinary lives.

From pupils to CEOs, Meee has helped thousands find their magic to transform themselves, their communities and their organisations. From leaders of PLCs and SMEs to parents, teachers, students, carers, the unemployed and prison inmates, Meee’s mission to helps people excel.

Sid Madge is also author of the ‘Meee in Minute’ series of books which each offer 60 ways to change your life, work-, or family-life in 60 seconds.

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