Written by Adrea Gibbs, Head of Culture and Facilitation
Well Training U.S.
Image Source: Pexels
DEI, Diversity, Equity, Inclusivity, is a trigger. It is a trigger for businesses. It is a trigger for the media. It is a trigger for education. It is a trigger for everyday human beings. In large part, it is because the words have been interpreted or reinterpreted based on the specific needs they are addressing, often being used interchangeably, which they are not. In my opinion, there is a piece that is sort of alluded to within the context of DEI but not specifically called out though it, too, is much broader in definition that might come to the mind of most who see it in the DEI context. That word is accessibility.
For that reason, I much prefer to use the acronym IDEA that represents inclusivity, diversity, equity, and accessibility. Were I to go further, I would express that IDEA = Belonging is the bigger picture, but I will reserve that for another column.
To clarify, consider the following definitions from OxfordLanguages, which I use as it is the default for Google and what most people would find when searching, when IDEA or DEI or DEIB or any other variation is discussed.
INCLUSIVITY
in·clu·siv·i·ty
/ˌənklo͞oˈsivədē, ˌiNGklo͞oˈsivədē/
noun
the practice or policy of providing equal access to opportunities and resources for people who might otherwise be excluded or marginalized, such as those having physical or intellectual disabilities or belonging to other minority groups.
DIVERSITY
di·ver·si·ty
/dəˈvərsədē, dīˈvərsədē/
noun
1. the state of being diverse; variety.
"there was considerable diversity in the style of the reports“
2.2. the practice or quality of including or involving people from a range of different social and ethnic backgrounds and of different genders, sexual orientations, etc.
"equality and diversity should be supported for their own sake"
EQUITY
eq·ui·ty
/ˈekwədē/
noun
1. the quality of being fair and impartial.
"equity of treatment"
ACCESSIBILITY
ac·ces·si·bil·i·ty
/əkˌsesəˈbilədē/
noun
1. the quality of being able to be reached or entered.
"the restoration project involved repairing the roof and improving accessibility”
2. the quality of being easy to obtain or use.
"students were concerned about the accessibility of quality academic counseling”
3. the quality of being easily understood or appreciated.
"the accessibility of his work helped to popularize modern art"
To be transparent, yes, there are other definitions associated with all those words, but for the purposes of IDEA education, they ring true. By starting with the definitions of each word, the foundation is set to explore what each area means, in general, as well as specifically for an organization. It is a springboard for positive conversation when approached from the perspective of opportunity and growth. It is not about telling people who they should hire, how they should run their business, or any consideration along those lines. It is about providing tools to organizations who want to see themselves in the world with a confident image about understanding how to hire, train, and retain the people who will align with their culture, provide thoughtful and focused customer service, and the opportunity to potentially reach out to new markets, expanding their base.
When I have the opportunity to work with organizations and share my presentation entitled, The Value of IDEA (Inclusivity, Diversity, Equity, Accessibility) In The Workplace, participants, particularly leadership, are often surprised by the opportunities using IDEA methodology within their business can provide across the breadth of their organization. True IDEA practices are not limited to recruitment and hiring. It is far broader and equally applicable and attainable within most operations.
There are lots of excellent programs out there about DEI but the reality holds that every day things change because people change every day. Opinions change every day. Every day we are exposed to more situations and circumstances that will directly affect our frame of reference. However, a key component to establishing, maintaining, and growing any type of program is, from the start, understanding the heart of the business and building an approach from that foundation. To be honest, one webinar, one certificate, one seminar at a conference, one YouTube video, and the like, is not enough. IDEA is a living, breathing, evolving prospect but for those businesses that pay attention, it could be, potentially, the best investment ever made in your organization, leadership, team members, and consumer-base.
Want to learn more about how your organization can benefit from IDEA. Please reach out to adrea@welltrainingus.com.
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