Including is another action that takes intentionality and awareness.
To be inclusive, you must first recognize those who are left out.
Remember, if you are going to call someone out to include them, you do need their permission.
How to Include
When you walk into a meeting, a team, or a group, consider who is not represented, and work with intention to include them.
Look around the room and encourage everyone to contribute and share their perspective. When someone does speak up, demonstrate that their opinion matters.
Acknowledging people both verbally and non-verbally may be helpful to those more introverted or less comfortable with inclusive behavior.
Examples of things to do or say include:
- Set ground rules for various communication channels and platforms to ensure everyone’s voices are equally heard
- Don’t let good ideas go unnoticed. Repeat them, giving credit to the source, and share them with those in positions of influence.
- “I would love to hear from everyone on this topic. Do you mind if we do a round robin to get everyone’s input?”
- “Does anyone have more to add to what XX just said?”
- “Have we covered all the bases on this topic? Does anyone have an alternative point of view for us to consider?”
- “I know it might have been hard to speak up as we were talking about XX, so before we move on, I want to offer this opportunity for anyone else to add to this discussion.”
- “I know this topic wasn’t originally on the agenda, so I’d like to reserve time in our next meeting for any other thoughts you might have on this topic before we make a decision.”
- “I’d like to leave the door open on this topic. If anyone else has ideas, please do provide them to this group over the coming week.”
Your Including Assignment
Over the next week, pay attention to who is and is not in the meetings you are in. Is there anyone missing who has subject matter expertise or contributions on the topic that you think should be there?
Pay attention in the meetings you are in. Is there anyone who is not speaking up, participating, or engaging?
After the meeting, meet with them 1:1 to recognize the value you think they could contribute. Ask them why they might not have spoken up. Go learn more and check in.
Use the Including section of your ALLIES Activity packet to record what you noticed, what you said or did, and what the impact was.