First published on LinkedIn.
“It takes all the running you can do just to keep in the same place.” ~ Lewis Carroll
Just like that...we've already completed the first half of 2021. The pandemic has proven again and again that time is becoming more precious than ever. We have 168 hours in a week and, despite cutting out commute times and large conference meetings, we are still barely keeping up. But are you BUSY...or PRODUCTIVE?? That's the key question.
We underestimate the amount of time we have available for our work and for ourselves. This manifests itself within employees through burnout, a decline in the quality of work, loss of productivity and a decreasing ability to communicate clearly – just to name a few.
And now, with a tight labor market on every business leader's mind for this Fourth of July holiday weekend, I want to tell you to breathe and relax. I say this to my clients (and I will share this with you) – you need to "slow down in order to speed up (TM)." More and more, organizations - and now the U. S. government - are looking for ways to include diverse backgrounds and perspectives to build stronger teams and spark innovation, all while improving the experience of underrepresented employees. This should be another top priority for business leaders in their search for top qualified talent.
July 26 is Disability Independence Day, celebrating the anniversary of the 1990 signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act. In 2020, 17.9% of persons with a disability were employed, down from 19.3% in 2019. As a leader, you'll need to slow down for your employees so they can speed up the innovation.
There is still so much that can be done! Remember, true Inclusion & Belonging exists when we can bring ALL members of the team into the fold while being their true authentic selves. This is the beginning of a psychologically safe workplace for ALL employees. We aren't just talking about the numerous social categories (i.e., gender, race, ethnicity, language, nationality), but the less visible forms of diversity in the workplace as well.
Until next time. Be well...stay safe & healthy!
Kommentare