Imagine this: your company has rolled out an ambitious diversity-focused initiative, but despite your best efforts, you’re not seeing the results you expected. What are you missing?
Perhaps internal resistance is quietly undermining your progress. Your team feels unequipped to navigate the complexities of increasing diversity, and its hesitation is stalling meaningful change. It’s a common scenario—well-meaning leaders and recruiters, unsure of how to approach the conversation, end up taking minimal (or no) action. This paralysis, driven by the fear of saying the wrong thing, is one of the biggest roadblocks in the journey toward a truly inclusive workplace.
Without effective language and clear communication from the top, your efforts to increase diversity can feel hollow. It will lack the necessary direction and enthusiasm to take root. Good intentions give a great start, but they merely scratch the surface. Equipping your team with effective language to turn those intentions into impact is the real deal.
With that in mind, two things must happen. First, establish a baseline of effective language for all employees, and two, equip leaders with key phrases to effectively communicate how the organization plans to increase diversity and retention without harm.
Effective and Inclusive Language For All Employees
Effective language can drive inclusivity, while ineffective language can alienate and harm.
To bridge this gap, establish a baseline of effective language to be used by all employees. Here’s an example of what we do at Team JTC. Rather than using terms like “minority” when referring to an individual, we use terms like “minoritized” or “marginalized.” These words more accurately reflect the societal conditions leading to underrepresentation. For instance, “minoritized” emphasizes the active process of marginalization. According to the Pew Research Center, a total of 75% of Black adults say they have experienced discrimination at work. This highlights the importance of effective language because it also acknowledges systemic barriers.
Use precise terms like “White” or “individuals with privilege” instead of euphemisms like “majority group.” Using vague terms can reinforce a false sense of superiority and a lack of clarity on who you may be referencing. So, just say what you mean.
Avoid categorizing language into binary groups such as “good language” or “bad language.” Instead, discuss what language is effective and ineffective in achieving diversity and inclusion. Binary language can create unnecessary conflict and reduce the effectiveness of diversity-focused initiatives.
Key Phrases for Leaders
Leaders play a crucial role in the success of any diversity-driven initiative, as their communication sets the tone for the entire organization. However, many leaders find themselves walking on eggshells. They hesitate to speak publicly about diversity due to fears of backlash or using inappropriate words.
To mitigate these fears, leaders must focus on clear, intentional language. Here are some effective statements that leaders can use:
- We recognize that we are underrepresented among [specific underrepresented groups].”
- “Our organization has initiatives to increase diversity in areas where we are underrepresented.”
- “Increasing diversity is important to our workplace, to our business units, our departments, and even our individual teams.”
- “We have put programs and initiatives in place like [name of initiative] to help accelerate our ability to increase representation among [specific underrepresented groups].”
- “We are working hard to create an environment where everyone feels safe to bring their whole self to work and where untapped voices also get heard.”
A great start indeed but what happens if employees or leaders experience backlash for use of ineffective language? As we grow and learn, ineffective language use is common, even inevitable. Mistakes are part of the process, but how you handle them makes all the difference. Missteps in language or intent can lead to resistance, misunderstandings, and even setbacks. That’s why it’s important to create a culture where learning and growth are encouraged, not penalized.
To avoid resistance, start by promoting open communication. Encourage questions and discussions about diversity, inclusion, and equity without judgment, making it clear that everyone is on a learning journey. When it comes to speaking about diversity, preparation is key. Equip your team with more effective phrases and strategies to navigate difficult conversations confidently. Aligning intent with impact means consistently checking in with those affected by your words and actions, ensuring that your good intentions translate into positive outcomes.
In the end, the success of your diversity-focused initiative depends not just on the steps you take but also on how you handle the challenges along the way. Be proactive, thoughtful, and inclusive in your approach, and you can create a workplace where increasing diversity will become more than an initiative—it’ll be a way of life. And when everyone feels empowered to contribute their best, the impact is undeniable.
I’m excited about the upcoming Increase Diversity Summit on October 16 – 17, 2024. If you’d like to discover how to turn strategies like these into action, please follow me on LinkedIn and check out the summit here.