DEAR TED “How do I get my Exec team on board with diversity and inclusion?”

This is a tough one. It’s one I’ve struggled with

Part of the issue is that Execs read the paper put to them, express interest and ask questions at the meeting and then do the bare minimum, claiming that if they don’t attend to their primary function then there won’t be a business left to try to create an inclusive environment in. Some, of course, are bigots, but mostly they are just lazy and need constant encouragement and engagement

The key is the quality of the business case that you make. What is it that the organisation will lose out on by failing to tackle diversity and inclusion? Is it ultimately customers, or in a research organisation it might be a loss of ideas or appropriate challenge. Your task is to help the Execs see what they will miss out on, eg in a university it might be that a less inclusive department gets poorer staff and ultimately fewer students

Sometimes the only way is to build change from within the management and “shame” the Execs into action

This is one of a series of questions posed by my mentees, please add your own thoughts and ideas below