HRI
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Meaningful inclusion fosters belonging HR heavy hitters established that diversity and inclusion actually need to foster belonging above all else
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BY ATLEHANG RAMATHESELE uring an invigorating HR Indaba Conversation, powered by TalentSmith Technology, HR professionals and business executives came together to examine what real inclusion looks like.
While diversity, equity and inclusion remain popular buzzwords in HR practices and general organisational culture, they are often steeped in lip service, instead of truly enhancing and uplifting the differences between employees and effectively eradicating unconscious bias. It was concluded that in order for inclusion to be meaningful, it is ultimately about creating an environment that enables people to feel valued, engaged, heard and satisfied.
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S’ne Magagula, CHRO at Tiger Brands, shared a fun approach to identifying the differences between diversity, inclusion and belonging, but first noted how important it is to engender a sense of belonging for everyone in an organisation. She shared the widely documented Verna Meyers’ perspective that diversity is being invited to the party, inclusion is being asked to dance, but belonging is feeling free to dance the way you want to. “When you belong, you feel free to express yourself the way you want to and you feel accepted in the organisation for expressing your individuality,” she added. S’ne expanded further by explaining that diversity is having a seat at the table, inclusion is having a voice but belonging is having that voice be heard.
