The Diversity & Flexibility Alliance is a think tank dedicated to creating work environments centered on inclusion and innovative thought leadership. The Alliance empowers organizations with the tools necessary for advancing women, fostering flexibility, and retaining top talent.
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Action Step – Leverage Hybrid & Virtual Events to Enhance Connection & Collaboration
The Alliance’s Action Steps are designed to assist organizations with implementing practical strategies and policies related to diversity and flexibility. Members can access full versions of all of the Alliance’s Action Steps in the Member Resource Center.
Many organizations are adopting hybrid/flexible work environments. For these new work environments to succeed, organizations must change much more than just their flexible work policies – organizations need to undergo a significant culture change which includes leadership support, communication guidelines and team agreements, trainings, technology, mentoring and other support structures. Organizations should also leverage hybrid/virtual events both to support the new work environments, but also as a general practice regardless of where they fall in terms of work locations (i.e. fully in- person; hybrid; or fully virtual). However, these hybrid/virtual events must be orchestrated thoughtfully and require resources, just like in-person events – most importantly, all attendees (virtual and in-person) need to be active participants and not just spectators so that these events are impactful for all. Hybrid/virtual events can have various benefits when implemented properly, including fostering cross-office connections; promoting connections despite budgetary constraints; securing powerful speakers and participants with time constraints; and gaining access to broad audiences. The following are the Alliance’s recommendations for hosting successful hybrid/virtual events:
Members: continue reading this Action Step in the Member Resource Center
To read this entire Action Step become a member of the Diversity & Flexibility Alliance. To learn more contact Manar Morales.
Action Step – Affinity Groups: Building Community, Development & Advocacy
The Alliance’s Action Steps are designed to assist organizations with implementing practical strategies and policies related to diversity and flexibility. Members can access full versions of all of the Alliance’s Action Steps in the Member Resource Center.
Organizations are rethinking how they approach work, talent and social justice – many are implementing hybrid and flexible work environments, adding resources to recruit and retain a diverse workforce, and focusing on ways to foster employee engagement, inclusion and productivity. Organizations need to undergo a culture shift in order to truly embrace hybrid/flexible work, diversity and inclusion, and talent development and retention. Affinity groups are a great way to foster this culture shift, as these groups promote community, development, and advocacy. Organizations should pay close attention to creating, structuring, and revamping their affinity groups properly in order for these groups to have the greatest positive effects.
Members: continue reading this Action Step in the Member Resource Center
To read this entire Action Step become a member of the Diversity & Flexibility Alliance. To learn more contact Manar Morales.
Action Step: The Power of Stay Interviews
The Alliance’s Action Steps are designed to assist organizations with implementing practical strategies and policies related to diversity and flexibility. Members can access full versions of all of the Alliance’s Action Steps in the Member Resource Center.
As businesses are increasingly focused on recruiting and retaining employees, we recommend that they align their principles, purpose, practices, policies, and people to create a culture of inclusion. To confirm that colleagues appreciate and flourish in your workplace, it is critical to regularly seek their views and feedback. Organizations often gather information regarding culture from new hires as they join the firm, 360-degree evaluations of supervisors, engagement surveys, focus groups to understand specific challenges/successes, and exit interviews. However, more organizations should conduct stay interviews, one-on-one conversations with employees intended to understand what factors are leading them to stay at the organization. Stay interviews demonstrate to colleagues that you care about their opinions, are interested in addressing learning, work assignment/client responsibilities, and want to replicate positive experiences to stave off preventable departures.
We recommend these four strategies for successfully incorporating stay interviews into your workplace:
Members: continue reading this Action Step in the Member Resource Center
To read this entire Action Step become a member of the Diversity & Flexibility Alliance. To learn more contact Manar Morales.