Diversity, Equity & Inclusion For Dummies. Dr. Shirley Davis

Introduction

      Welcome to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion For Dummies. As I write this, the timing for this book couldn’t be more perfect given the predictions about the workplace of the future. I can’t tell you what an honor is to write the first-ever book of this type in this series. I’m Dr. Shirley Davis, and I’ve spent over 30 years in Human Resources and as a Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer, a corporate executive, and now a global workforce consultant. I believe that all my experiences (both professional and personal) have prepared me to contribute this body of work.

      Since the 2010s, the global workforce, marketplace, and communities have undergone significant demographic shifts, making workplaces more diverse than ever before. And research reveals that this trend will continue. Diversity, equity, and inclusion have taken a front seat for organizations seeking to capitalize on new talent — more women, greater ethnicity, five generations, and different abilities, backgrounds, experiences, thinking styles, beliefs, and ways of working — and build world-class cultures. They recognize that in order to attract, engage, and retain top talent and new customers, clients, and members, they must have strong leaders who can work effectively across differences, and they must foster a work environment where all talent enjoys a sense of belonging and inclusion and has an equal opportunity to succeed.

      Most organizations aren’t there yet, though, and most leaders still aren’t comfortable or knowledgeable about diversity, equity, and inclusion. Transforming a rigid, hierarchical, and homogeneous culture to a world-class one can take years. The same goes for developing inclusive, first-rate leaders. But you can get there with intentionality and a commitment of time, effort, and resources. And trust me; this new generation of top talent is demanding it.

      So leaders at all levels (from the boardroom to the C-suite to the mid-level supervisor) have a unique opportunity right now to embrace these new realities. You can begin by first developing the skills, competencies, and behaviors needed to lead effectively across differences. Then you can start implementing the proven strategies that position your organization to be an employer of choice and a great place to work and do business.