Inclusion and diversity within companies

13 of March, 2025

You may have heard the term inclusive leadership in companies before, but what does it really mean? And more importantly, how can you apply it in your own workplace?

Inclusive leadership in businesses is a management style that focuses on the inclusion and engagement of all employees.

It is based on the idea that each individual has something to contribute and that a diverse workforce is a stronger workforce, starting from recruitment.

Sounds great, right? But how is it put into practice? That’s where we come in. 

In this article, we will explain the fundamentals of inclusive leadership and show you how to apply it in your own business. We’ll also share some tips for measuring success and using Sesame HR to create an inclusive leadership plan in companies.

What is inclusive leadership in companies?

For a company to be successful, it is crucial that everyone feels they have a place in it. This is where the concept of inclusivity comes into play. Inclusivity is about including everyone and removing any barriers that may stand in their way.

This can be done in many different ways, but it starts with inclusive leadership in companies. An inclusive leader understands that everyone has something to offer and ensures that everyone is included in their plans and decisions.

This not only creates a more diverse and inclusive company, but it also leads to a more productive one.

In short, if you want to improve your company, you should start by examining your senior executives. Are they inclusive? If not, how can you get them to be more so? And once you’ve done that, you should investigate how you can work to include everyone else.

Characteristics of inclusive leadership in companies

There are certain distinctive traits of an inclusive leadership style in companies. To begin with, leaders who embrace inclusion communicate effectively and openly with their team. 

They make sure everyone has access to the same information and don’t keep secrets. Inclusive leaders also promote collaboration and cooperation, seeking the opinion of team members before making decisions.

They are also advocates of diversity. And they work to create a workplace in which everyone feels welcome and appreciated for their individual contributions. 

Lastly, inclusive leaders are compassionate and supportive, always putting the needs of their team first.

So, how to be an inclusive leader? We’ll give you some practical tips in the next section.

How to be an inclusive leader

You want to implement inclusive leadership in companies. This means you are aware of how you behave and interact with other team members and your clients.

If you don’t know where to start, here are some practical tips for being an inclusive leader:

1. Try to think from the other person’s perspective to better understand different opinions.
2. Listen actively; try to perceive what the other person is trying to tell you.
3. Value and respect the work that others do.
4. Support everyone equally, regardless of their gender or sexual orientation, physical or mental condition, etc.
5. Create safe spaces for expression without prejudice and without any discrimination.
6. Promote open and collaborative dialogue, and foster internal communication.
7. Provide educational resources to raise awareness about your team’s cultural diversity.

Do you find these tips useful? Of course, these are just some of the steps to get started. If you’re looking for more ways to improve leadership and inclusion in your company, don’t hesitate to innovate and design your own plan.

How to apply an inclusive leadership plan in companies?

Now that you understand what inclusive leadership in companies is and what its characteristics are.

So you’re ready to start implementing it in your company. Here are some steps you can follow to do it:

1. Set clear and achievable goals. Establish objectives for the inclusive leadership plan that are specific, quantifiable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound.
2. Identify areas of improvement. Measure the current state of inclusive leadership in your company and define where you need to improve with a list of actions.
3. Form a multidisciplinary team to work on implementing the plan. The team should be composed of people with different perspectives and ideas. All so that they can help with the execution of the necessary actions to achieve the overall goals of the plan.
4. Use tracking tools to measure the success of the plan. This allows you to monitor its execution and determine the long-term success of the plan. This will also allow you to apply the relevant corrections to your actions.

In a nutshell, the inclusive leadership in companies is about creating an environment where everyone feels comfortable and capable of bringing out their best. 

It’s about creating a space where employees feel heard and appreciated.

And where everyone has the opportunity to grow and develop. However, to be able to value its implementation, measurable objectives and performance evaluations are essential.

Measure the success of the plan with Sesame HR

Once you have created your inclusive leadership plan in companies, how do you evaluate to check if it is working? That’s the question you might ask yourself after reading the previous list, and we can help. 

The Sesame HR software allows you to control the success of your plan through several key elements.

On one hand, it evaluates progress as workers complete their individual objectives in terms of professional development. This means leaders can control ongoing training and goal achievement. 

You can also track previous plans to see if employees are meeting their goals. 

On the other hand, the Sesame HR software monitors job climate surveys to identify critical areas to improve inclusion and diversity. 

This provides you, as a manager and leader, with key information about the culture of your company and which areas require additional improvements.

If you want to create a more inclusive workplace, the first step is to understand what this means for your organization. Once you have a clear idea of your goals and objectives, you can start to work on a plan to make your workplace more inclusive. 

Remember, the HR software from Sesame HR can help you measure the success of your plan and ensure it is on track. If you want to know more, continue to our resources section. You can also request a 14-day demo. The choice is yours!

Cristina Martin

People and Talent Director | LinkedIn | | Web | +post

Professional with over 20 years of extensive experience in various areas of Human Resources (Recruitment, Training, Occupational Risk Prevention, and Personnel Management). Experience in the Management Department: Broad understanding of the company and HR.

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