Inclusive leadership, cultures, and organizations have proven time and again to outperform others and win every time. We have also experienced that inclusion is, in fact, a developable competency. As we consider developing inclusive leadership, the question becomes “how?” Change comes with understanding how to behavioralize inclusive leadership, and meaningfully engaging a leader in his or her own development.
In a broad review of research and data on diversity, equity, and inclusion, with an eye for what comprises an inclusive leader, we arrive at a few conclusions:
- Inclusion is a must-have competency for today’s leaders.
- The journey to inclusive leadership requires a personal commitment.
Defining Inclusive Leadership
Most research agrees that inclusive leaders have six broadly defined competencies: