According to the third annual Inclusion & Diversity (I&D) Report by the World 50 Group, commitment to DE&I is rising, with 72% of respondents increasing their organization’s investment over the past year. Direct reports to the CEO were found to have the most access to sufficient talent and support, while middle managers were identified as needing improvement in support. Momentum for DE&I initiatives remains particularly strong in larger companies, with 81% of leaders reporting that their DE&I budgets had either stayed the same or increased during this period.
That CEO detail is important when coupled with Harvard Business Review Research. Only 4% of employees felt disrespected in their study. But consider it this way – one in 25 colleagues is feeling disrespected.
Seven behaviors that generate respect include valuing diversity, staying in touch with individuals’ issues and concerns, being trusted, resolving conflicts, balancing results with consideration for others, encouraging open discussion, and giving honest feedback in a helpful way.
Treating everyone with respect is crucial for good leadership. In a landscape of tight labor and difficult hiring, getting your team right is critically important. And this is a key unlock. A miss here is a corrupting influence on an organization.