Consider these tips for fostering DEI initiatives at your association.
Building a community with a sense of belonging is key to maintaining a strong, healthy association. With that in mind, let’s take a look into how associations can foster diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives.
Launching your DEI initiatives
1. Assess your current state.
It’s hard to formulate a strategy for diversity, equity, and inclusion when you don’t know where you currently stand. Use the list of questions below as a starting point to evaluate your association’s current DEI state. You can then begin to analyze this data and formulate a strategy that aligns with your association’s values.
- Does your membership reflect the diversity of your organization’s field? If not, what are more diverse organizations doing to recruit and retain members?
- Does your leadership represent the diversity of your membership? What representation (if any) is missing?
- Are there any initiatives in place to ensure that members feel included?
- Do you have a committee and/or volunteer leaders dedicated to measuring and improving diversity and inclusion?
2. Set goals and benchmarks
Start brainstorming what your ideal membership would look like and set short-term and long-term goals to get you there. It can be something as simple as revising your recruitment strategy with more targeted marketing or partnering with local organizations who support and have a large diverse network. You also might create a committee dedicated to nurturing DEI and ensuring that state and local chapters are aligned with the association’s goals.
3. Lead by example
Your leadership should understand the benefits of a diverse organization so they can play to the unique strengths of its members. As members join an association, they want to know that they have the same opportunities as everyone else. Make DEI a value of your association and you’ll engage members and leaders that also hold those same values.
4. Implement inclusive policies
Everything from your organization’s membership sign-up process to the policies and procedures manual you share should reflect your association’s values. Modeling inclusive language is an example of a policy to implement. Also, publicize your policies regarding hostile community behavior and stand by them. If you create a positive organizational culture, you’ll find that your members refer others, building upon the environment you’ve started.
5. Provide resources
Successful organizations invest in technology that allows them to share internal resources, programs, and networking groups to support their members. Offer diversity leadership training to create a space where members can discuss diverse topics; this will help set an inclusive tone for all. Regular member communication on the progress and priority of diversity and inclusion efforts is integral too. Listen and respond to your current members, who can help you retain and recruit diverse individuals.
Growing your DEI initiatives
Establish an inclusive culture
It’s the differences of view, background, and experiences that contribute to innovation and growth. Empower members to voice their feelings and/or concerns. There might be a policy or process in place that doesn’t take all backgrounds or abilities into account, and members should be able to point out opportunities for improvement. For example, if you’re hosting an association event, make sure that you’re not excluding anyone who might have cultural conflict with the event location or food provided, or that someone with a physical limitation might not be able to access.
Foster a collaborative environment
As barriers between personal and professional lives have blurred, people are becoming more open about the stresses associated with taking care of loved ones, feelings of isolation from working remotely, and racial bias. Helping members find common ground, professionally or personally, fosters a more inclusive environment. Each member has their own unique circumstances, so make your association a space for them to collaborate with peers for personal or professional problem solving.
Understand public perception
As the online world continues to grow, we are finding new ways to connect with others virtually. Audit your brand image, language, and types of speakers you invite to your annual conference. These are just some of the ways your association’s brand is “speaking” to the world. Be sure that message includes your association’s values around diversity and belonging.
Communicating your DEI initiatives
DEI is a multi–faceted initiative. Organizations must be aware of the messages they convey internally and externally.
Small changes in words and phrases used to communicate with staff and members are great opportunities to build and foster inclusivity. For example, some people are becoming more aware of how they want to be addressed. If you are unsure of preferred pronouns, use “they,” “you,” and “everyone” instead of “he,” “she,” and “ladies and gentlemen.”
Consider areas in which you and your organization can create a feeling of inclusion, such as:
- Avoiding gender-specific nouns
- Not using prefixes before names
- Auditing commonly used phrases and industry terms for perceived racist, ableist, or sexist connotations
- Limiting the use of acronyms and idioms
TIP: Ensure your communications incorporate elements that foster empathy and trust.
In summary, take the time to define your association’s goals and values around DEI. And be sure to share updates regarding what is being done to drive your DEI initiative and what that means for members and staff.
