What Is Inclusive Leadership?

Summary

The selected video ‘What Is Inclusive Leadership?’ reviews the concept of inclusive leadership. EmberinPtyLtd (2015) defines diversity as the differences between people based on gender, ethnicity, disability, age, and race. The following section describes inclusion as openness to various perspectives, knowledge, ideas, styles, and approaches. EmberinPtyLtd (2015) argues that diversity extends beyond having a diverse workforce. It eliminates group thinking. According to EmberinPtyLtd (2015), group thinking limits innovative ideas because people with similar attributes generate the same ideas. According to EmberinPtyLtd (2015), diversity encourages differences in approaching a problem and opportunities, hence the need for organizations to embrace diversity to generate new ideas. The Video interprets inclusion as taking action to ensure everybody’s voice is heard. Encouraging everyone to speak up contributes to business performance. The Video also reviews situations when employees feel most included.

Based on the information presented, employees feel more included when they are asked their opinions and when they are asked how to make a change. EmberinPtyLtd (2015) states that in an inclusive organization, every employee is heard despite their position. EmberinPtyLtd (2015) adds that inclusive organizations leverage every human capital, create a sense of belonging among employees, and make employees feel valued. The Video’s conclusion indicates that diversity cannot work alone. Organizations must combine diversity and inclusion to achieve innovation, engagement, and collaboration (EmberinPtyLtd, 2015). Innovation mainly arises from exchanging different ideas because each individual has unique opinions and recommendations on resolving a problem and the opportunities the organization should consider to achieve growth. Therefore, inclusive leadership should focus on identifying and creating an environment that favours diversity by ensuring that every employee is included in decision-making and that their contribution to the organization is recognized and appreciated.

Application

The leadership video is connected to the course content on leading diverse teams. Global leadership includes working with people from different backgrounds. Global leaders must embrace inclusive leadership to prevent discrimination affecting the organization’s performance and reputation. According to Moss (2019), inclusive leadership includes accommodating diverse opinions and creating an environment where people from different backgrounds feel their contributions and views are considered in decision-making. The Video is also connected to the course content on discrimination. According to Goebel (2020), discrimination is a significant issue in global leadership. Global leaders are expected to embrace inclusion to prevent discrimination. Promoting diversity is vital in preventing discrimination by ensuring all employees get the same treatment despite their preferred characteristics. Takagi & Hong (2016) argue that global leaders face the dilemma of embracing inclusion due to diversity issues, such as cultural misunderstandings, biases, slow decision-making, harassment, and communication issues. Slow decision-making arises from differences in ideas, opinions, and perspectives.

Leaders working with a diverse workforce must ensure that every employee’s opinions, ideas, and perspectives are considered and discussed in the decision-making process (Moss, 2019). Communication issues may arise from differences in communication styles and language barriers. Conflicts are also inevitable due to cultural misunderstandings caused by different perspectives on other people’s cultural practices. The leading cause of harassment is differences in gender and race, where the majority group may harass the minority group. Global leaders should also be keen to avoid inequitable inclusion, which includes denying some people access to opportunities due to their preferred characteristics. They also need to encourage employee teamwork to prevent discrimination and unfair distribution of resources.

Reflection

One of the lessons I have learned from the leadership video is that inclusion is about giving people from different backgrounds equal opportunities and ensuring that everyone’s voice is heard. The definition of inclusion as ensuring that everyone has equal access to resources and opportunities has gained popularity on the topic of diversity in the global business environment. According to Goebel (2020), the global environment is characterized by diverse teams from different ethnic groups and races. Therefore, global leaders need to understand all aspects of inclusion, including how it should be implemented to create a conducive environment for everyone. The second lesson is that diversity and inclusion play a significant role in innovation. Based on the description offered by EmberinPtyLtd (2015) on group thinking, it was clear that it emerges from involving people with the same background in decision-making because they generate similar ideas. Therefore, it is essential to create diverse teams to facilitate the generation of new ideas that lead to innovation.

Another lesson is that leaders are vital in promoting employee diversity and inclusion. One of the primary roles of leaders leading diverse teams is to create an environment that supports diversity and inclusion. Besides setting rules discouraging discrimination and harassment, leaders are also responsible for encouraging employee engagement and collaboration. Engagement is encouraged by giving every employee a voice and involving them in decision-making. Leaders are also responsible for encouraging teamwork by assigning employees tasks that should only be completed in teams. This facilitates teamwork and promotes the exchange of new ideas. I have also learned that diversity cannot work without inclusion. People from diverse groups need to feel safe and appreciated to collaborate. Therefore, diversity and inclusion should be implemented together.

References

EmberinPtyLtd. (2015). What Is Inclusive Leadership? [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/OkrES2EmgEk

Goebel, Z. (2020). Global Leadership Talk. Global Leadership Talk, 115-138. https://doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780190845049.003.0007

Moss, G. (2019). Inclusive Leadership. Inclusive Leadership, 107-115. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315108575-5

Takagi, J., & Hong, H. (2016). The Global Team Leader Dilemma: Diversity and Inclusion. Uncertainty, Diversity and the Common Good, 133-144. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315549385-17

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Question

Watch the assigned Video listed for the module/week. You select from one of the videos and write a minimum three-page reflection paper on one of the leadership videos chosen for the module/week. Paper format should include the following sections: (1) Cover Page; (2) Summary section of leadership video/ minimum 1 page; (3) Application section of how the leadership video connected to the course content/ minimum ½ page; and (4) Reflection section of what lesson you learned from the leadership video/minimum ½ page.

What Is Inclusive Leadership?

Leadership Video Reflection Paper (Sources): Reference Web Links and Videos
Web Links and Videos

https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=leadership+videos&qpvt=leadership+videos&FORM=VDRE
Categories: (1) Leadership Video Inspirational; (2) TED Talks Leadership and Management, Leadership, etc.; and (3) Drew Dudley Everyday Leadership

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What Is Inclusive Leadership?