Embracing Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB) is essential for wellbeing, both at work and in your personal life.
When everyone in a community feels safe, seen, supported, valued, and included, everyone in that community benefits. When DEIB is ignored or overlooked, individuals and communities suffer.
DEIB is a big topic. It may even bring some uncomfortable thoughts and feelings to the surface. What do the words Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging mean to you? These words might mean something quite different to someone else.
Whether you’re navigating DEIB at work or in your personal life, it’s important for everyone in your community to align on what these words mean and how they are brought to life. Getting everyone on the same page can take time, but it’s worth the effort. Communities that embrace DEIB tend to be happier, healthier, and more connected.
At Groov, we’re experts in wellbeing – and collective wellbeing is impossible without DEIB. We think about DEIB every day and keep up with the latest research. That said, no one has all the answers. There’s a lot of thinking and research out there, and even the experts don’t always agree on the ‘right’ way to do things.
What we do know is what these words mean and how they apply to wellbeing. This mini guide is designed to help you understand DEIB and discover how to embrace these values in your daily life. Let’s dive in.
Here’s how we define Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging at Groov.
Diversity refers to who makes up a community. Who’s welcome? Who’s respected and listened to? Who holds roles of responsibility? True diversity is when a range of traits and experiences are represented throughout all levels of a community. Traits and experiences include gender identity, sexual orientation, race, physical ability, religion, age, and socioeconomic status, among others.
Equity refers to ensuring people have equal access and fair treatment. Are everyone’s needs catered for? Are privileges and disadvantages acknowledged? How are people from different backgrounds supported? A truly equitable community is one where everyone’s needs are considered and met, so everyone can thrive.
Inclusion refers to building an environment where everyone feels safe to participate. Does everyone feel like they matter and their voice is heard? Is anyone silent or silenced? True inclusivity is when communities commit to overcoming barriers so that everyone participates.
Belonging refers to people feeling safe to be their full, authentic selves. Are everyone’s insights and contributions valued? Are differences celebrated? True belonging is when everyone feels accepted, valued, and connected within their community.
One of the biggest roadblocks to creating a diverse, equitable, and inclusive community is bias. We all have biases that influence who we include, elevate, and celebrate. Some of these biases are conscious (we’re aware of them) and others are unconscious (we act on them without realising).
Common examples of bias include most ‘-isms’, such as sexism, ageism, and racism. Biases can also be more subtle, such as name bias (preferring certain sounding names over others), beauty bias (including or excluding people based on how they look), and affinity bias (preferring people who have similar backgrounds or experiences to us). There are dozens of different types.
Everyone has biases – human beings are wired to seek out the familiar. Other biases are ingrained in our psyche through cultural norms. Many people exhibit biases towards people they like or even love. Having biases doesn’t make you a bad person, but refusing to acknowledge that you have biases – and avoiding trying to overcome them – can cause suffering for the people around you.
The first step is to discover your biases. You might find it helpful to think of them as your ‘blindspots’. Harvard has an excellent test for this called Project Implicit. You can take tests across several areas, including race, gender, age, and disability. We suggest working through these tests over a few weeks.
Overcoming bias requires work and can be confronting. Be gentle on yourself, take your time, and remember everyone has biases. Focus on the outcome of this work, which will be a healthier and happier community. Overcoming bias is worth the reward of a diverse, inclusive, equitable community where everyone feels a strong sense of belonging.
Here are some more resources we can recommend.
How to Bust Bias at Work on the WorkLife with Adam Grant podcast.
John Amaechi perfectly deconstructs white privilege in 180 seconds on Pinknews.co.uk.
The Leader’s Guide to Unconscious Bias: How To Reframe Bias, Cultivate Connection and Create High-Performing Teams by Pamela Fuller, Mark Murphy, and Anne Chow.
Top Tips by Diversity Works New Zealand.
This Chair Rocks: A Manifesto Against Ageism by Ashton Applewhite.
Belonging: The Key to Transforming and Maintaining Diversity, Inclusion, and Equality at Work by Kathryn Jacob, Sue Unerman, and Mark Edwards.
The Intersectionality Matters! podcast.
Belonging, inclusion and connection: The first steps in getting work diversity right on the This Working Life podcast.
LGBTQ+ voices: Learning from lived experiences on McKinsey.com.