This article elaborates on remarks shared at a recent LINC CEO Breakfast Forum, a gathering of 50 CEOs from various industries and sectors committed to strengthening the workforce in the greater Lehigh Valley.
Fostering a culture of high performance is critical to organizational success. Leaders play a vital role in setting the tone of the work environment. Employees and managers often base their actions, decisions, and behaviors on what they see modeled by leaders.
At LINC, we have the privilege of working with more than 50 organizational leaders who are advancing vital strategies to promote more inclusive workplaces. Why? Because inclusive workplaces are good for our people and business.
Inclusive cultures aren’t just beneficial for underrepresented groups—they’re good for everyone. Their results lead to greater fairness, opportunity, and high performance, making them critical to value creation within our businesses. After all, who wants to work in a culture of exclusion?
If leaders set the tone for culture, what characteristics fuel the attitudes and decisions that employees at all levels want to see more of in the workplace?
The Five Traits of Inclusive Leadership
1. Fairness
Fairness lies at the heart of inclusive leadership. This means rewarding and recognizing all employees who contribute to organizational success. According to Great Places to Work, “When workers say they receive a fair share of the profits, they are 28% more likely to say people give extra effort at their company and 46% more likely to stay with their company long-term.” Giving extra effort, or “discretionary effort,” can mean the difference between a product being shipped on time and a costly delay. Fairness strengthens employee morale while fueling productivity and performance.
2. Listening
Active listening also contributes to employee morale, productivity, and performance. Instead of jumping into an employee complaint with a quick fix or downplaying a concern, leaders who model active listening build trust that can lead to stronger team alignment and collaboration. Studies have demonstrated that a leader’s ability to listen increases their employees’ job performance across a range of industries – from marketing to manufacturing. Listening shows employees that their voices matter, creating a culture of inclusion and respect.
3. Curiosity
Inclusive leaders are curious leaders. They actively seek out diverse perspectives and ideas, especially when making decisions. Fostering a culture of “contributory dissent” according to research by McKinsey and Company helps organizations get to better solutions, innovate, and tackle tough challenges. As a leader, you may welcome others’ opinions when they fit your narrative. In the face of disagreement or friction, how do you lean into curiosity to fairly consider ideas, plans, and opinions of team members who bring a contrary point of view?
4. Trust
Trust is the foundation of any inclusive workplace. Leaders build trust by communicating openly, honestly, and through the relationships they build within and among their team. Even in challenging situations, transparency signals to employees that their leaders are committed to doing the right thing.
5. Accountability
Inclusive leaders hold themselves and their teams accountable for fostering a culture of inclusion. Operating with a strong orientation toward results is one of the four behaviors that account for 89% of leadership effectiveness in a global survey by McKinsey and Company. Accountability involves setting measurable goals, tracking progress, and addressing gaps when they arise. Our actions as leaders have an outsized impact on the people we serve. Are you holding yourself and your leadership team accountable for creating a culture where all employees feel valued, heard, and empowered to contribute their unique perspectives?
Our Opportunity
How would you rate your ability to show up with these five traits consistently and reliably? Take a moment to reflect on which of these five traits comes naturally to you and which of these you may need to lean into more. Then, consider how well your leadership and management team members model these characteristics.
Inclusive leadership is a strategic advantage for our businesses. We can create workplaces that empower everyone to succeed by embracing these traits.
