Inclusive Leadership

This intermediate program is designed for people leaders at all levels and explores best practices for actively promoting equity and inclusion. Through engaging scenarios, leaders are challenged to visibly demonstrate a commitment to equity, to listen with empathy and curiosity, to admit to and address structural forms of discrimination, and to challenge the presumed “neutrality” of workplace cultures and events. 

TOPIC: Leadership
LEVEL: Intermediate
Core Skills & Behaviours​

Six Traits of Inclusive Leaders

  1. Visible commitment: Inclusive leaders communicate an authentic commitment to diversity, find ways to challenge the status quo, hold themselves and others accountable, and make diversity and inclusion their personal priority.
  2. Humility: These leaders are modest about their capabilities, are willing to admit their mistakes, and create the space and psychological safety for others to contribute.
  3. Awareness of bias: Inclusive leaders reflect on and show awareness of their personal blind spots, look for the flaws within their current systems, and work to ensure a meritocracy.
  4. Curiosity about others: These leaders demonstrate an open mindset, deep curiosity about others, practice active listening and reflexivity, practice empathy and withhold judgement to better understand those around them.
  5. Cultural intelligence: Inclusive leaders attend to others’ cultures and are willing to adapt as is required of them.
  6. Effective collaboration: Empower others, invite diversity of thinking and psychological safety, and work to create team cohesion.
Snippet Title Topic Covered

1

Loaded Labels

Through an exploration of the term “queer,” demonstrates that differences and tensions can exist within marginalized groups. As an outsider, listening with empathy can help support those experiencing tension.

2

The Blockade

Shows the importance of making an authentic commitment to supporting Indigenous employees through words and actions, even in situations of political or cultural conflict.

3

Brianna’s Idea

Highlights class divides in the workplace and shows how leaders can intentionally include people across socioeconomic backgrounds.

4

Telling Turnover

Explores strategies that leaders can use to address their lack of awareness about workplace racism. Shows that leaders should be aware of racism that is structural, not just interpersonal.

5

The Meritocracy Myth

Highlights the potential pitfalls of traditional “merit-based” hiring practices and gives leaders strategies for reducing bias in hiring and for finding top talent.

6

The Corporate Goth

Through the lens of personal aesthetic, shows the importance of inclusion even when colleagues’ differences feel like liabilities.

7

Golf For The Guys

Demonstrates that trans-inclusive HR policies are sometimes not enough to foster inclusion. Suggests strategies for building truly inclusive workplace cultures.

8

The Ramadan Picnic

Shows how company events, policies, and schedules are not culturally “neutral” and suggests ways that leaders can advocate for inclusivity.

9

They Don’t Get Us

Explores the challenges of international collaboration and shows how leaders can build cultural humility in their teams.

10

Different and Disruptive

Explores the challenge of neurodiversity in the workplace. Shows how approaching individuals with respect and curiosity can help leaders find accommodations that work.

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See how easy it is to activate soft skills in your organization. Soft skills training on 3 key topics: DEI, Leadership, and Collaboration.