How can you improve your team's inclusive social skills?

1 Assess your team's strengths and gaps

The first step to improving your team's inclusive social skills is to assess where you are and where you want to be. You can use various tools and methods to measure your team's level of diversity, inclusion, and belonging, such as surveys, interviews, focus groups, or self-assessments. You can also ask for feedback from your team members, customers, stakeholders, or mentors on how they perceive your team's social skills and culture. Based on the results, you can identify your team's strengths and gaps, and set specific and realistic goals for improvement.

3 Create opportunities for interaction and collaboration

The third step is to create opportunities for your team to interact and collaborate with people from diverse backgrounds and perspectives. You can organize team-building activities, social events, or mentoring programs that encourage your team to get to know each other better, share their stories and experiences, and learn from each other. You can also assign cross-functional or cross-cultural projects, tasks, or challenges that require your team to work together, solve problems, and innovate. The goal is to create a safe and supportive environment where your team can practice their inclusive social skills and build trust and rapport.

4 Model and reward inclusive behavior

The fourth step is to model and reward inclusive behavior in your team. You can set an example by demonstrating your own inclusive social skills, such as being respectful, curious, open-minded, empathetic, and supportive. You can also acknowledge and appreciate your team members who show inclusive behavior, such as giving recognition, feedback, or incentives. You can also address and correct any behavior that is exclusive, disrespectful, or harmful, such as providing constructive criticism, coaching, or disciplinary action. The aim is to reinforce and sustain your team's inclusive social skills and culture.

6 Keep learning and growing

The sixth and final step is to keep learning and growing as a team. Improving your team's inclusive social skills is not a one-time event, but a continuous journey. You can always find new ways to enhance your team's diversity, inclusion, and belonging, such as reading books, articles, or blogs, watching videos or podcasts, attending events or webinars, or joining networks or communities. You can also seek new challenges and opportunities to apply your team's inclusive social skills, such as expanding your market, customer base, or stakeholder group, or launching new products, services, or initiatives. The point is to keep your team's inclusive social skills fresh, relevant, and effective.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?