How to Build Relationships and Win More Business Through Inclusive Practices with Global DE&I Expert Andrés T. Tapia
Jan 23, 2024
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In this episode, global DE&I expert Andrés T. Tapia discusses the five disciplines of inclusivity and how they can be applied to leadership and organizations. Topics include the power of authenticity, finding courage to do the right thing, adding diversity to teams, the commercial aspect of embracing diversity, and practical steps to become consciously inclusive.
Align diversity initiatives with business goals for better results.
Use curiosity to build meaningful relationships with diverse team members.
Challenge and transform existing systems to create an inclusive organization.
Deep dives
Leading with Purpose: The Power of Inclusive Leadership
In this podcast episode, MoBunnel and Andres Tapia discuss the importance of diversity and inclusion in organizations. They highlight the need for authentic leadership and emphasize the power of leading with a commercial mindset. By aligning diversity and inclusion initiatives with business goals, organizations can drive innovation and achieve better results. One practical strategy they discuss is the use of curiosity to build deep and meaningful relationships with diverse team members. Curiosity allows leaders to uncover hidden dimensions of diversity and leverage them to drive talent development, engagement, and innovation. Lastly, they stress the importance of challenging existing systems and processes that may perpetuate bias and lack inclusion.
The Role of Curiosity in Building Inclusive Teams
Curiosity is identified as a key trait of inclusive leaders. By setting the stage for open dialogue, leaders can ask team members three important questions. First, they can inquire about something unique or unknown about the team member. This question creates a safe space for sharing personal experiences or perspectives. The next question explores the impact that bringing more of that uniqueness to work could have on team performance and goals. This encourages team members to consider the value they bring through their diverse experiences. Finally, leaders can ask what they can do to support team members in being their authentic selves. These three questions foster inclusivity, drive deeper connections, and leverage diversity to drive innovation and results.
Leadership as a Catalyst for Structural Inclusion
Authentic leadership and curiosity alone are not enough to create an inclusive organization. Leaders must also challenge the existing structures and systems that may perpetuate bias and hinder diversity. By questioning and transforming HR processes, such as talent attraction, development, and succession planning, leaders can ensure that these systems are unbiased and supportive of diverse individuals. By considering the impact of diversity in all areas of the organization, leaders can drive sustained change and create an environment where all team members can thrive.
Applying a Growth Mindset to Diversity and Inclusion
Leaders should approach diversity and inclusion initiatives with a growth mindset. Rather than focusing solely on recruiting practices, leaders must develop cross-cultural competence and agility to effectively leverage the diversity within their teams. By honing their skills in inclusive leadership, leaders can successfully manage and engage diverse talent, drive innovation, and achieve better business outcomes. This growth mindset also requires leaders to recognize the potential biases within existing systems and actively work to make them more inclusive.
The Strategic Advantage of Inclusive Leadership
Inclusive leadership offers strategic advantages to organizations. By leading with a commercial mindset and aligning diversity and inclusion initiatives with business goals, leaders can tap into the full potential of diverse talent and gain a competitive edge. This approach not only drives innovation and improves team performance, but it also enhances the quality of products and services provided to customers and consumers. By leveraging the full range of perspectives and experiences within their teams, leaders can create a more inclusive and successful organization.
Ready to become more consciously inclusive? I am so excited to share this episode of Real Relationships Real Revenue with you today because I sat down with Andrés T. Tapia who has done more work on diversity and inclusion than anyone I know.
He has made a profound impact on me and I am so happy to have him here to talk about his books that are all about the 5 disciplines of inclusivity. He’s sharing how we can apply these disciplines to leadership, teams, and enterprise-wide to the entire organization.
Topics We Cover in This Episode:
The five disciplines of organizations
The power of authenticity in organizations and leaders
How to find the courage to do the right thing
How you can commit to adding more diversity in your teams
The commercial aspect of embracing diversity
The practical steps to become consciously inclusive
Why curiosity is the skeleton to becoming more diverse
The invisible aspects of diversity
The two main elements of inclusion
I hope you enjoyed this conversation with Andrés and are able to apply the 5 disciplines of inclusivity and diversity to your organization, teams, and leadership.
