We live in an increasingly diverse world and that means that successful organizations must embrace diversity in all its myriad forms if they expect to succeed in the 21st Century. Evolving expectations by employees and other critical stakeholders have spurred many companies to embrace diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives to transform their cultures and become better aligned with the society in which they operate.

DEI programs are based on the simple idea that all employees should be able to thrive personally and professionally in a safe environment. When implemented authentically, DEI practices help businesses succeed by making their employees feel seen, supported, and appreciated. At our own agency, we are only at the beginning of the DEI journey. We’ve established a committee, surveyed our employees and will be implementing a program throughout the year to advance progress in this important endeavor.
Below we share some learnings about why diversity, equity and inclusion matters, and how it can bring measurable value to your own organization.

Business Success

According to a recent McKinsey study, “Companies in the top-quartile for ethnic/cultural diversity on executive teams were 33% more likely to have industry-leading profitability. This suggests that inclusion of highly diverse individuals – and the myriad ways in which diversity exists beyond gender (e.g., LGBTQ+, age/generation, international experience) – can be a key differentiator among companies.” When people from diverse backgrounds collaborate, their unique perspectives contribute to improved business success.

Employee Morale and Productivity

Employees who are feel empowered by their company to openly voice their thoughts and ideas enjoy a sense of mutual trust and belonging with their organization. The more people feel like they belong and are appreciated for their efforts, the more creative and productive they become, allowing them to feel more connected to their work.

Talent Retention

When employees feel this sense of connection to their work, they are more likely to stay at their job. As we face the “great resignation”, it’s important for organizations to take note that 39% of recently surveyed employees indicate they would leave their organization for a more inclusive one. Ensuring your organization has a diverse and inclusive environment can foster a greater sense of engagement and provide additional resources for staff who are struggling with burnout, particularly considering the pandemic’s outsized impact on communities of color.

Nurture Innovation

According to a World Economic Forum report, “Companies with diverse employees have up to a 20% higher rate of innovation and 19% higher innovation revenues.” This is because, at its core, DEI ensures different opinions, ideas, and perspectives are welcomed and celebrated at the workplace. This creates a haven for innovation to flourish.

Of course, for these strategies to be successful, they must start from the top down. This year at Wilks Communications Group, we will be investing in DEI because we believe it is both a moral and business imperative for us. We intend to share our progress throughout the year as we advance in our journey toward building an organization in which diversity, equity and inclusion are fully imbedded in our DNA. In the spirit of learning, we invite you to share your own organization’s experiences along this path by connecting at hello@wilksgrp.com.