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Before you close your laptop and close your office door until 2023, you may be wondering what lies ahead. Diversity, equity, and inclusion is a field that’s only expanding. 2023 will be an exciting year — here’s a look at the trends that lie ahead.
Ongoing DEI training
Reflect on the company-sponsored DEI training that you either attended or oversaw this past year. How many times did employees go through a workshop, training, or another event? For most organizations, yearly DEI training is the norm. In fact, some even call it quits after they onboard people and have them go through diversity training then.
A big trend in 2023 will be exposing employees to continuous opportunities to teach them and guide them on how to work effectively with others from diverse backgrounds, identities, cultures, abilities, etc. Diversity is a dialogue — not a one-time yearly event. The more your employee learn to talk about it with one another, the better they’ll be at handling those real-life situations.
2. DEI for all
Next year, an “all-hands-on-deck” approach will be favored in DEI departments. While you certainly want to uplift the voices of those who are underrepresented, they aren’t the only voices who should be present in a conversation.
Make sure all employees know that, regardless of their race, gender, sexuality, etc. A “DEI for all” approach won’t always be perfect. Non-traditional DEI leaders (i.e., white men) stepping into these roles can mean different steps, or a new course of action is tried. However, it’s important to recognize when an organization is overlooking “overrepresented” candidates simply because of their social identifiers. When this occurs, it’s counterproductive to diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts, and you have to check yourself.
DEI is about working together to make everyone’s voice heard, and it’s possible to do this with everyone involved.
3. Cohesive diversity and inclusion strategy
If you’ve been using the same diversity and inclusion strategy for the past few years, it’s time to revamp your actions in the new year. Yes, a diversity calendar is a great step….as is a few diversity workshops. But these aren’t a diversity strategy. Having a DEI program that’s been haphazardly thrown together can be confusing and ineffective. This is the year to start fresh and put some real thought into how you’ll measure your efforts. Here are a few ways you can do this.
- Create KPIs (key performance indicators) related to hiring, retention, or advancement of diverse talent
- Analyze data based on feedback about job satisfaction or workplace culture
- Provide contributors with an easy way to track their progress and performance regarding KPIs
- Delineate clear responsibilities surrounding anything DEI related
- Implement expectations and determine the most effective route to accomplishing your action plan
- Highlight the tools and resources required to make your DEI plan a success
Final Thoughts
As you enter the new year, remember that diversity, equity, and inclusion are supposed to bring everyone into harmony and understanding with one another. It’s all about seeing those different from you and understanding how their background, culture, race, beliefs, etc. shape who they are and how you can appreciate those differences.
But this doesn’t happen on its own. Cultivating a thoughtful, cohesive diversity program with diversity training, a diversity multicultural calendar, and upcoming 2023 trends are simple ways your company can continue to improve.
