{"id":103062,"date":"2023-09-26T09:00:44","date_gmt":"2023-09-26T13:00:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/trainingindustry.com\/?post_type=magazine&p=103062"},"modified":"2023-09-26T09:17:39","modified_gmt":"2023-09-26T13:17:39","slug":"the-inclusion-paradox-why-many-diversity-efforts-fail-to-foster-inclusion","status":"publish","type":"magazine","link":"https:\/\/trainingindustry.com\/magazine\/fall-2023\/the-inclusion-paradox-why-many-diversity-efforts-fail-to-foster-inclusion\/","title":{"rendered":"The Inclusion Paradox: Why Many Diversity Efforts Fail to Foster Inclusion"},"author":34,"featured_media":103308,"template":"","tags":[31013,2654,25978,15339],"class_list":["post-103062","magazine","type-magazine","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-deib","tag-diversity-and-inclusion","tag-diversity-equity-inclusion-and-belonging","tag-equity-and-inclusion","global_topic_tax-diversity-equity-and-inclusion","magazine_issue_tax-fall-2023","magazine_article_type_tax-feature"],"acf":{"sponsored":false,"gated":false,"gated_content_type":"","file_attachment":null,"gated_content":"","form_instruction_header":"To access the full article, please fill out the form below:","pardot_html_embed":"","author_override":true,"author_name":"Lee Russell","author_image":"","author_bio":"Lee Russell, a director of client solutions, has worked within the consultancy space for over a decade, with a specialty in helping people and teams to reach and sustain their peak performance. His creative and pragmatic approach, combined with his extensive experience in leadership development, allows him to deliver a variety of blended solutions, which provide long-lasting results for clients. Email Lee<\/a>.","excerpt":"The great irony of organizational diversity and inclusion initiatives is that the \u201cinclusion\u201d aspect is often excluded.","main_content":"The great irony of organizational diversity and inclusion initiatives is that the \u201cinclusion\u201d aspect is often excluded.\r\n\r\nTypically, diversity initiatives will focus on the need to provide equal opportunities, employment law compliance and the merits of diverse recruitment. These are of course highly important. But attracting and recruiting a diverse workforce is only half the battle. You then have to create an inclusive workplace in which people are accepted as individuals, regardless of their differences and where they feel their contribution is valued.\r\n\r\nIf any of your employees do not feel part of the organization<\/a>, their personal performance is likely to decline. Exclusion acts as a psychological distraction. It plays on people\u2019s minds and can even lead to paranoia as individuals wonder \u201cWhat\u2019s wrong with me?\u201d Their stress levels can rise, they\u2019ll avoid collaboration with others and their engagement will plummet. Absenteeism and attrition will increase.\r\n\r\nConsequently, productivity, innovation and agile working \u2014 the ability to adapt quickly to changing circumstances \u2014 can all suffer. Put simply, if your diversity and inclusion initiatives are focusing primarily on the need for diverse talent, rather than how to make people feel included, aspects of your business are under threat.\r\n