Developing the traits of an inclusive (and effective) leader
Photo Credit: Thanks to Alex Jackman for sharing their work on Unsplash.
In March last year Harvard Business Review published this article ”Why inclusive leaders are good for organizations, and how to become one” off the back of research from Deloitte which confirmed that “Inclusiveness” isn’t just nice to have (and ethical) it’s effective.
Their research found, among other things, teams with inclusive leaders are:
17% more likely to report that they are high performing
20% more likely to say they make high-quality decisions
29% more likely to report behaving collaboratively
These are the six traits or behaviors that they found distinguished inclusive leaders;
Visible commitment: They articulate authentic commitment to diversity, challenge the status quo, hold others accountable and make diversity and inclusion a personal priority.
Humility: They are modest about capabilities, admit mistakes, and create the space for others to contribute.
Awareness of bias: They show awareness of personal blind spots as well as flaws in the system and work hard to ensure meritocracy.
Curiosity about others: They demonstrate an open mindset and deep curiosity about others, listen without judgment, and seek with empathy to understand those around them.
Cultural intelligence: They are attentive to others’ cultures and adapt as required.
Effective collaboration: They empower others, pay attention to diversity of thinking and psychological safety, and focus on team cohesion.
It’s one thing to understand these traits, and admiral to wish to have them, but make no mistake, becoming an inclusive leader requires work, courage and a commitment to personal development.
Shift Practitioners work with individuals and teams to develop these traits and others that are required to become an inclusive, holistic and inspirational leader. We recognise that these are the leaders we need now to face the unprecedented challenges of our times.
Having spent the past decade co-designing, producing and facilitating leadership and adult development forums, programs and events in Australia, our founder is uniquely placed to personally recommend highly skilled, diverse practitioners who have demonstrated their competence and commitment to leadership transformation.