2 Professional tools
In order to take your diversity and inclusion agenda forward, you will need to have a strategy. But before you create your diversity and inclusion strategy, you will need a vision to work towards. The strategy then outlines the different actions that will help you to achieve that vision.
A vision statement also plays an important role in communicating your intention to both staff and customers.
Writing your diversity vision statement
Most organisations will have a vision statement somewhere prominent on their website, and many have now devised a specific diversity statement.
Kelly (2021) has spent some time collecting 25 examples of good diversity statements from a number of well known companies. Although some of those statements have been updated since the article was written, the author usefully highlights the common attributes of a good statement:
- the main statement is 20–75 words in length
- a headline is used to help the message stand out
- they are easily readable, i.e. the language used does not include complex business jargon
- they use short sentences
- there are lots of positive words, e.g. empower, purpose, improve, authentic
Here are some examples of good practice (up to date at the time of writing):
Be yourself. We like it that way.
Diversity fuels the Un-carrier spirit. Our commitment to equity and inclusion across race, gender, age, religion, identity, and experience drives us forward every day.
Diversity & Inclusion
We firmly believe that embracing diversity and inclusion (D&I) drives innovation, improves scientific and clinical outcomes and contributes to equitable healthcare access for all.
Here at Genentech, that means fostering belonging within our own walls, advancing inclusive research and health equity in our industry at-large and transforming society through partnerships across healthcare, education and within all communities.
If you followed the links, you’ll have seen that some organisations share this statement on a wider webpage, incorporating stories, data and links to relevant reports or policies.
It is also important that the diversity statement aligns with, and is informed by, the overall vision and strategy for the organisation.
Activity 5 Researching diversity statements
Use your preferred search engine to research the diversity statements of businesses that are closely aligned with the organisation you work for (or the one you have chosen to focus on in these activities). Make notes on what you like or dislike about them.
Referring to your notes, choose which diversity statement(s) you plan to align with or aspire to.
Comment
If you are a small business, you may find that similar small businesses don’t currently share diversity statements on their websites.
But even if you don’t employ a large number of staff, and feel you can communicate your message to them in other ways – communicating your vision for diversity more publicly will make you more attractive to a diverse audience during any future recruitment. Signs of commitment to this agenda are also something that clients and customers are increasingly looking out for.
In the next section, you’ll start to look at key aspects of writing your strategy.