Designing successful diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives isn’t easy and requires more than good intentions. But what if there was a method you could follow to ensure you get it right? In our latest episode of the DE Talk podcast, we sat down with Andrew Adeniyi, Author, CEO and Founder of AAA Solutions, to discuss the three Ps of creating a DEI-friendly culture, as well as one important rule that goes beyond a one-size-fits-all approach. Let’s take a look at part of his conversation with our Manager of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Strategies, Mikey Meagher, and then be sure to catch the full episode on your preferred podcast platform!
Mikey Meagher:
What would you say to leaders or individuals who are skeptical about the need for DE&I initiatives, whether it’s within the organization as a whole or a separate division?
Andrew Adeniyi:
Well, the first things that come to mind for me is education and statistics. If you think about what these terms actually mean, we’re really just talking about understanding and acknowledging that we’re all different. We all have different needs, and when we really work to address the needs of those individuals, people do their best work. So, we know when people are engaged, people are doing their best work, they’re more productive, they stay longer, they’re more likely to recommend that place of employment to someone else. And those are all positive things that go back to understanding that we’re different (diversity) but we all have different needs, which is equity and ensuring that things are fair regardless of our differences and that everyone feels respected and that they belong. So, I would argue DEI is really just good leadership, in general. I would say you have to start with understanding what these terms mean.
And then, you go to the numbers and the statistics and there’s reports that continuously show that diverse groups of people, diverse teams where people feel safe to contribute in a meaningful way, they outperform those teams and those organizations that don’t have that level of diversity. So, when you look at the stories out there, you look at the statistics out there and the research and you really just get down to what the terms actually mean. The better question is, are you truly doing everything you can to get the most out of your people if you’re not embracing these principles and DEI as a whole?
Mikey Meagher:
Yeah. And that brings to the next question too, with your three Ps, the amplified purpose, prioritization of people, and simplified processes. Talk to me about your three Ps.
Andrew Adeniyi:
Yeah, so the three Ps are purpose, people, process. And part of the research I was doing when I was going to write the book was how do you transform cultures? And a lot of what I was seeing and hearing was around processes, things that may need to be tweaked that can change the culture, things that may need to be added, whether in the physical workspace or with a policy or procedure, and those are all good things. But I realized that if you don’t start with the why and the kind Simon Sinek speaks on in his book, Start with Why. If you don’t start with the why, then it’s hard for things to be sustainable and for things to really be cascaded across an entire organization.
So, the first P is purpose…
Listen to the full episode to explore Andrew’s three Ps and just what exactly the platinum rule of DEI is. Stay tuned for another great episode next month focusing on veterans and the role ERGs can play in establishing inclusion and belonging for these individuals within an organization. Want to be notified when it’s available? Subscribe to our emails or text alerts to be among the first to know when new DE Talk episodes are available!
