In an ever changing dynamic business landscape, organizations are becoming increasingly aware of making their workplace more inclusive of people from diverse cultures, backgrounds, races, sexualities, and genders. Studies have time and again shown that diversity in the workforce increases innovation, strengthens decision-making processes and gives a competitive edge to the organization in their respective industries and DEI consulting firms can support organizations through this journey.
Diversity inclusion consulting in India has evolved and having a DEI charter is becoming the norm in the Indian corporate world. However, the need to retain true talent and foster an inclusive culture can pose some real challenges. Companies often struggle with the question: “How can we translate good intentions into tangible results?”
Partnering with a Diversity and Inclusion consultant can offer valuable external perspectives to answer this question by identifying and analyzing key areas that an organization can concentrate on to start and maintain a long lasting inclusive environment.
From bringing expertise and perspectives from different industries to benchmarking your organization’s diversity and inclusion efforts against industry best practices an Inclusion Assessment can provide organizations with valuable insights into what’s working for the organization and what needs improvement.
Identify DE&I Goals and Craft an Execution Roadmap:
Data-driven Insights for collaborative workplaces:
A diversity inclusion consultant acts as a trusted partner by assessing the current Inclusion status within an organization. By using tried and tested diagnostic tools to measure employee experiences and perceptions of inclusion,the DEI consultant collaborates with the organization to recommend interventions for specific cohorts and also highlights biases and cultural nuances which may be invisible. This could also prompt questions about inclusive measures to be taken in recruitment, promotion and development of opportunities allowing the leadership to address them head-on by reviewing the employee experience lifecycle.Â
Leadership alignment for inclusion:
Working with a DEI partner gives organisations an opportunity to review and strengthen their DEI roadmap. Through interactions with leadership, inputs are taken to understand the organization’s vision in terms of the DEI charter. Post the DEI diagnostics, leaders come together to review the results and commit collectively to the DEI charter with renewed focus.
Through focus group discussions with mixed cohorts the DEI consultant probes further into the insights gathered through the diagnostics. This also allows the employees to engage candidly with a DEI external partner about their experience within the organization. Creating a safe space like this eventually can help the organization understand areas where the organization’s culture can be more inclusive through first-person narratives. It can also work as a starting point for employees to start their own Employee Group Resource (ERG).
Promoting fair and equitable recruitment and promotion practices:
Diversity & inclusion workforce consulting firms help in identifying potential biases within your existing hiring and promotion processes as well. A DEI consultant can recommend a DEI policy audit or an Inclusive policy and process audit to create an inclusive talent experience.Â
The policy audit for inclusion allows the organization to meticulously examine their policies and processes through an equity-focused lens. The goal is to identify areas where adjustments and enhancements can be made to ensure fairness, inclusivity, and equal opportunity for all employees. The framework for this audit is based on four crucial parameters:
– Different dimensions of diversity are included in the policy or process.
– Language used is inclusive to all.
– Compliance to DEI specific laws, wherever applicable.
– Current progressive practices in the DEI space which will support the organization in enhancing the talent experience.
Measure the impact of DEI initiatives:
Going beyond DEI policies, consulting firms provide hands-on support to HR professionals, managers, and employees by training them on aspects like unconscious bias and inclusive leadership. This not only helps in building awareness of the workforce of the company but also helps in providing a starting point to address the discourse around inclusion in the company. By Identifying the key performance indicators (KPIs), the diversity and inclusion consulting firm can develop a robust measurement framework to evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of the company’s DEI efforts.
In our country’s present day competitive business environment, fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace is no longer optional, it’s essential for success. With a diverse set of people in the same country, collaboration in DEI consulting in India becomes imperative for employees in the company to be seen, heard and recognised for their uniqueness. By partnering with a qualified DEI consulting firm, you can translate your good intentions into tangible results, building a more successful and sustainable organization for the future.
