Every day inclusion

I write this as the back to school morning run rushes past my window following the summer break. A neighbour just called out “you look smart, are you ready for Year One?” The excitement, nerves, dread and relief of the parents and children is palpable.

It got me thinking about what happens when those parents come to work today.

A knackered parent sends their kid off for the first day of school having stretched themselves thin all summer. A colleague asks for a day a last minute day off for a procedure. The news is showing another story about immigration that bleeds into blatant islamophobia and racism, which directly impacts a team member. A peer comes back from bereavement leave.

Any manager or leader of a team will inevitably deal with these moments. Perhaps inconsequential in the life of the manager, but for the employee there are pivotal. Not just life memory moments, but manager memory moments too.

Whilst inclusion takes systemic and systematic action an intention, it’s also the result of everyday conversations.

It is built through the manager that says “Do you want me to cover for you in this meeting so you can catch a breath?” or “Are you sure a day off is enough?” It is fostered through the leader who takes time to ask “How are you feeling, can I help in any way?”

This is why I teach empathy as such an essential component of inclusive leadership.