What are some effective ways to leverage diversity for better communication strategies?

When it comes to internal and cross functional communication, I started to implement what I call, “work languages” where each person shares with others their preferences both in terms of channel (email, slack, whatsapp) and messaging tone (direct, soft, etc) so that member understands how to get the best out of each other!

A very simple way to leverage diversity to promote inclusivity and representation in a communication strategy is to know your audience and then design communications that allow the audience to see themselves. Simple things like ensuring that graphics represent all, not just a few, are helpful.

In my experience, effective communication weaves identification, recognition and trust between internal and external stakeholders. Clarity around the issue at heart for each of the parties involved. The proper level of recognition for, or identification of, the parties involved (the acknowledgment of their humanity and individuality for ex) And a foundation of trust and/or good will. These three factors help to craft, and to receive, clear, concise, inclusive and pertinent messages.

It’s also critical to consider your audience ability to access and understand your messages. This requires the need to be intentional in going a step further, in your audience mapping to consider your audience’s knowledge levels, access to the communication platforms and capability to synthesize or apply the knowledge shared

In the communication process, storytelling is essential. It's crucial to consider how you will tell the story and to whom you are telling it. People are diverse and use their brains in different ways. Some lean towards the left hemisphere, being more analytical and numerical, while others are more creative in the right hemisphere. When communicating, we must think about the story and how it meets the expectations of various perspectives and cognitive styles. The story should be coherent, clearly presenting the characters, situations, and context. A well-crafted narrative will make sense and satisfy audience expectations.

Real Scenario --- An employee felt like a misfit at a our company and the confidence was shaken. We thought of replacing under other manager. The new manager, was different, who was respectful and supportive, and valued inputs. Employee's confidence soared, and matured into a productive and engaged employee. With ongoing support, employee and it's team delivered a high-quality product. That being said, when employees feel valued, they are more likely to be engaged and productive. This can lead to increased innovation, improved customer service, and increased profitability for businesses.

Visuals is a form of language that could help reinforce key messages. Don't forget to ensure that the pictures of graphics you use are inclusive and doesn't reinforce stereotypes as well.

Avoid stereotyping and biasness. We need to recognize that certain words or phrases may have negative connotations or reinforce harmful stereotypes about specific groups. For example, using gender-neutral terms instead of gender-specific ones helps avoid reinforcing traditional gender roles.

One thing I have found helpful is to respect different cultures. Be aware of cultural differences: Recognize that individuals may come from diverse cultural backgrounds and have different communication styles. Be sensitive to these differences and adapt your communication approach accordingly. Avoid assumptions and stereotypes about cultural norms.

I've realised that leadership's commitment is a deal breaker when leveraging diversity for better communication. Leaders who prioritise diversity set the tone for the entire organisation, creating a safer and more equitable workplace. In turn, it fosters open and honest communication among employees and it directly impacts the quality of communication strategies, teamwork, innovation, and overall performance in the long run.

Language evolves with society, and the use of respectful and inclusive language reflects changing social norms and values. Staying up-to-date with language norms demonstrates an organization's ability to adapt and respond to societal shifts - again a huge advantage when it comes to establishing a deeper and long standing connect with the audience.

When I hosted a panel about diversity, we asked the speakers to confirm a visible diversity (woman, Black, Indian, Baby Boomer) and share an invisible diversity -- which got really interesting. I was expecting things like, "I have a chronic illness" or "I'm a lesbian" but we got things like, "I'm a mother of twins," "I'm older than I look," "I'm Texan." I think two things are of note here -- we make assumptions about people's diversity through our own lens (a friend of mine from Romanian is frequently presumed to be Hispanic) about race, gender, age, national identity, ethnicity and even sexual orientation and religion. The other is that each person is multi-dimensional -- we can't necessarily see all the factors that impact their identity.

I once had a supervisor who would start or end his emails with a phrase in my native language, even though he didn't speak it fluently. I deeply appreciated his effort, even if it was just a simple greeting like "hello" or "I hope your day is going well." This gesture made me feel valued, recognizing the importance of my cultural background. His respect for my culture and language increased my respect for him and boosted my productivity at work. When leaders acknowledge the cultural diversity of their teams, it makes team members feel seen and valued, enhancing their appreciation for the company and their motivation to contribute to the team's success.

Understanding context is key in learning and respecting various perspectives that can lead to better communication. Specifically, when we talk about Diversity, many folks forget about the Engagement/Equity and Inclusion elements. There is power in difference, once that is understood there is even more power in celebrating those differences.

Adapting our communication to the target audience allows for a more daring role and occasionally coloring outside the lines while remaining respectful. This achieves our communication goals, tells a well-crafted story, and targets the desired audience.

Within my last team at the Stroke Association, I'm proud to say that we had one the most diverse groups of people working together as a force for good. Two blind and partially sighted PRs, from different ethnic backgrounds, the oldest was over 60 and the youngest was early 20s with everything in between. I found that what made it so successful was the respect that everyone had for each other and what each person contributed. The outcomes were that we learnt more about what our audiences needed and wanted from us and how and when they wanted it - not just being broadcasted to when it was convenient for us.

It is also important to identify those who are a minority in the team and proactively guarantee they feel they are in a safe space to share their views, challenge ideas, express their creativity or disagree. It is from these conversations that a true understanding of what diversity means and how to apply it to communication emerges.

Never shy away from sharing your own narrative; your individuality plays a crucial role. Though my name sounds quintessentially British, I’m was born and grew up in Moscow. Early in my UK career, feedback often painted me as ‘direct.’ In reality, I was merely efficient in a Russian sort of way. Years of global collaboration have taught me to adapt my communication to diverse audiences. With my immediate team, however, I share this tale as a guidepost, ensuring they understand my best intentions are always at play.

If you're US based and your company is global, have someone from OUTSIDE your geography read (or ideally be involved in the creation of) communication. Adding to that if your organization has multiple business units, solicit input from leaders in the individual units themselves. So many times communication comes from "corporate" and it's often tone deaf and creates distance in employees, not a feeling of unity.

In today's interconnected world, diversity is more than just a buzzword; it's a goldmine for innovative communication strategies. Think about it: every individual, with their unique background and experiences, brings a fresh perspective to the table. 🔍 By tapping into these diverse viewpoints, we can craft messages that resonate on a deeper, more universal level. It's not just about linguistic prowess or cultural knowledge; it's about strategic thinking, genuine empathy, and the ability to adapt. 🚀 For businesses aiming to soar in a global market, understanding and leveraging this diversity is the key. It's about crafting messages that don't just reach audiences but truly connect with them. #DiversityInCommunication #GlobalStrategy

Inclusive language can improve the clarity and effectiveness of communication by avoiding ambiguity and potential misinterpretation. It ensures that the intended message is conveyed accurately and without causing offense. Inclusive and respectful language fosters positive relationships with various stakeholders, including customers, employees, partners, and the broader community. Positive relationships can lead to long-term support and collaboration.

The most effective method for me to communicate efficiently is through examples. Utilizing user personas, stories, analogies, and even well-known characters allows for storytelling in a way that makes audiences feel familiar with the topic and able to identify with the actors involved. This approach achieves communication goals more efficiently and easily. Thank you.

Developing a diversity-sensitive mindset comes before specific actions because it is the foundation upon which we build our behavior and habits. Our beliefs and attitudes shape our thoughts, feelings, and actions, and therefore, it is vital to cultivate a positive and inclusive mindset before taking any action. In my organization, we must hold diversity as an asset that makes us better. We believe that everyone has a voice that matters. We believe that strength lies in not making assumptions, in being a continuous examination of our biases, and in formulating cogent thoughts that you have ready when you witness discrimination or bias. Diversity and inclusion are threads in our mental fabric.

Diversity also means accessibility! Take the time to ensure that your colour scheme is accessible and add alternative text to your visuals.

Attracting the Best Talent? Attracting talent is one of the most important focus points for a company, everything that can be done to make yourself a magnet will allow you to have the pick of the very best. The question is how magnetic are you for the best diverse talent—in terms of the company brand, career progression...? This is fundamentally important as even a 30 percent saving on average staff cost is a rounding error when considered against the overall revenue of the organization. This is even more of an issue if your competitors are better suited to have access to top diverse talent as this could ultimately render your efforts leveraging diversity for better communication strategies useless.