On Becoming That Truly Inclusive Leader

In a global economy, openness to new diverse ideas is critical for staying competitive. Embrace a method to cull the best ideas from your team and put them into action.

learn more about Shirley Engelmeier

By Shirley Engelmeier

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

The most successful entrepreneurs have a natural curiosity to ask others for thoughts and feedback on their ideas. Simply put, they're inclusive. Yet as businesses grow and functions become more siloed, the idea of pinging others for their insights, usually dissipates.

But there are certain realities in today's new business normal that suggest that business leaders ought to do more listening than talking:

Related: 5 Steps to Getting Better Employee Feedback (Even If You Hate It)

Every business is now global. Even if you don't plan on selling any goods or services beyond your geographic region, you will still compete with those who do. Selling products or services to divergent markets requires diverse insights that can be gleaned from a diverse workforce. If you shut yourself off to the groups that make up the new global consumer landscape, you will fall behind your competitors.

Plus, innovation is imperative. Competitors are constantly finding new and better ways to reduce costs, reach newly defined customer cohorts and improve products. It's not enough to stumble onto one game-changing innovation. Companies must anticipate new markets by harvesting multiple sympathetic insights.

An inclusive leader is one who seeks and integrates the input of all stakeholders. The culture that is created as a result of inclusive leadership is the most adept at confronting challenges to find new markets. According to a recent Ernst & Young study, 85 percent of the business executives surveyed agree, but less than half of them said their organizations lack inclusive leaders.

Related: Collaborating Is a Waste of Time If It Falls Into These 4 Traps

To get your team operating in high gear, put some of these strategies into action:

1. Crowdsource. Actively seek ideas from employees to improve your knowledge of business issues through the use of online forums, live chats or other communications technologies.

2. Listen in. Be alert to the leadership potential within your own work team. When someone leans in (a term popularized by Facebook executive Sheryl Sandberg), be there to pay attention.

3. Host events that attempt to solve problems by small incremental improvements. Leverage employee insights and inputs to make positive change.

This can be your new model: When a problem arises, a diverse and independent work team should assemble, throwing ideas on the table: The concept most likely to solve the matter can be put into action immediately.

Most importantly, begin to embrace a mind-set that encourages cross-team collaboration and that takes everyone's ideas into consideration, not just those of a select few. Inclusive leadership works.

Related: Diversity Defines Our Global Economy. Do You Speak the Language?

Shirley Engelmeier

CEO and Founder of InclusionINC and Author

Shirley Engelmeier is the founder and CEO of InclusionINC in Minneapolis. She champions workplace initiatives that improve business results through employee engagement and inclusion. She is the author of Inclusion: The New Competitive Business Advantage and Becoming an Inclusive Leader: How to Navigate the 21st Century.

Related Topics

Editor's Pick

Everyone Wants to Get Close to Their Favorite Artist. Here's the Technology Making It a Reality — But Better.
The Highest-Paid, Highest-Profile People in Every Field Know This Communication Strategy
After Early Rejection From Publishers, This Author Self-Published Her Book and Sold More Than 500,000 Copies. Here's How She Did It.
Having Trouble Speaking Up in Meetings? Try This Strategy.
He Names Brands for Amazon, Meta and Forever 21, and Says This Is the Big Blank Space in the Naming Game
Business News

American Airlines Sued After Teen Dies of Heart Attack Onboard Flight to Miami

Kevin Greenridge was traveling from Honduras to Miami on June 4, 2022, on AA Flight 614 when he went into cardiac arrest and became unconscious mid-flight.

Leadership

How to Detect a Liar in Seconds Using Nonverbal Communication

There are many ways to understand if someone is not honest with you. The following signs do not even require words and are all nonverbal queues.

Business News

Pet Owners Slammed By Inflation Even As Fed Tries To Fight It

The Federal Reserve raised interest rates on Wednesday in an effort to fight inflation.

Marketing

Entice Customers to Make Additional and Larger Purchases Using These Two Tactics

With transparency, permission, and an eye on the customer's perception of value, you can knock both cross-selling and upselling out of the park.

Business News

Influencer's Team Speaks Out After Being Slammed For Selling Instagram DMs for $10,000: 'False and Inaccurate'

Emma Chamberlain's merchandise website went viral after one fan noticed a particularly pricey offering.