Key norms to inclusive environment

Does your team have inclusive team norms?

Have you discussed and developed some shared expectations for team members’ behavior?

The study* shows that there are 3 norms that characterize inclusive teams.

How leaders can put them into practice:

Promoting expressions of difference.

Encourage perspectives that are different to yours.

Validate ideas that may counter the status quo.

Challenge either/or thinking – there is no one truth and contrary perceptions can co-exists. Encourage that by asking if there are some other ideas or perspectives that may also be true and important to include.

Pay attention whose voice you consider when you search for solutions and minimize those power dynamics.

Model behavior where everyone on your team can raise an unpopular opinion without experiencing backlash.

Fostering a team coaching climate.

Normalize seeking and offering advice and supportive, constructive feedback

Make team coaching a goal tied to performance reviews.

Lead by example of acknowleding that mistakes are inevitable and actually a beneficial component of growth and learning.

Appreciate and amplify the qualities that make each team member unique like their background, skillsets, and areas of expertise.

Codifying Fair Team Decision-Making Practices

Together develop and agree on fair guidelines and procedures for how team decisions are made.

Revisit them and revise every now and then to ensure they keep on being inclusive and applied.

Be transparent and communicate them so that everyone knows what are the processes and how to correct them if they fail.

Source: Brassel, S., Van Bommel, T., & Robotham, K. (2022). Three inclusive team norms that drive success. Catalyst.