Rebranding DEI

“Smart leaders and CEOs know that having an organization that welcomes a diversity of viewpoints and perspectives will make better decisions, be more innovative, and be more successful in the long run.”
– Brent Snow of 10,000 Feet LLC, creators of The Inclusive Leader

Critics of diversity, equity, and inclusion programs typically have a limited view of what, exactly, they consist of. We’d like to help set the record straight.

In an article yesterday, the New York Times reported that corporate leaders are taking their DEI efforts “under the radar” in the face of backlash and threats of litigation. The week before, another Timesarticle mentioned that Fortune 500 companies are “rebranding” their efforts as diversity, equity, and inclusion programs come under attack.

What’s clear to us, in seeing those and other similar headlines lately, is that opponents of DEI programs typically point to reverse bias in affirmative action hiring or promotion practices or the futility of one-off, feel-good events.

“Being an inclusive leader is about proactively creating an environment that is able to attract, retain, and truly engage diverse voices and perspectives,” says Brent Snow, an Advantage thought leader partner and founder, driving force and chief instigator at 10,000 Feet, the company behind some of our most popular learning experiences The Inclusive Leader, Decision Mojo, and Interplay.

“No leader worth their salt wakes up in the morning and thinks, “How can I be non-inclusive today?’ I believe all good leaders want to create the kind of environment where diverse voices and perspectives flourish – where different ideas and approaches can be entertained, and where smart, talented people from all walks of life feel like they can contribute their best ideas, share their concerns, and be successful,” he says.

Jonathan Hodge, president and CEO at Advantage, puts it this way: “Effective DEI is about establishing and maintaining a business strategy and a culture of awareness that embeds diversity, equity, and inclusion. It is a fact that diverse teams make better decisions, and it is also a fact that inclusion drives more innovation. These strategies drive real business results for organizations around the globe. It’s not simply hitting the numbers or checking off a box.”

Contact us or talk to your Advantage partner to find out more about learning experiences that can enhance your organization’s DEI strategy, including The Inclusive Leader, Decision Mojo, BlueEQ, Multipliers, Collective Genius, AccelerateME, and Influence Inside.

One great thing for 01.23.24 – Reprise:  13 actions & behaviors you can take or do now to help create a more inclusive world (10,000 Feet)