How To Focus Your Inclusion Work on The Right People

Too much "DEI work" is about impressing the wrong people.

Before we get to that.

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It’s the 21st Century and everyone is competing for your attention.

You are competing for people’s attention.

If you want an inclusive workplace you need other people’s attention to make that happen.

I speak to a lot of you who are focused on the wrong people.

Here we’re going to get you focused on the right people. 

 We’re going to cover three things today:

              1           People Who benefit from your attention

              2           People who you should remove your attention from

              3           Somewhere you should place your attention

Too much DEI work is about impressing the wrong people.

This gets you nowhere.

 - Diversity statements

- Trying to win awards

- Photos on the website

It’s focused on random people outside the organisation.

Let me tell you what this looks like in practice:

You’re chasing approval from people who don’t even work with you.

You’re spending your energy trying to impress an audience that isn’t invested in your success.

You’re focused on optics over outcomes.

Here’s a real example

You spend weeks preparing for an industry diversity award submission.

You want to show your organisation is “leading the way” on inclusion.

You spend days and weeks making sure your submission is polished.

You reach out to popular influencers online.

You speak to the organisers.

You even consider spending money on the event to show how committed you are.

When the shortlist is announced, your organisation doesn’t make the cut.

But even if you had won, it wouldn’t have changed what’s happening in your workplace.

The same people are disengaged.

The same barriers are still there.

The same problems are there… unresolved.

And it was a waste of time.

Why?

Because you were focused on impressing an external panel of judges who don’t even know your organisation.

You were chasing approval from people who don’t work there.

You wanted attention from people who you don’t understand

Now, you’re left feeling drained.

The energy you spent trying to “look good” could have been spent making actual progress.

I get it, you want your work to matter, not just to outsiders, but to the people who show up in your workplace every day.

The trick is to focus your attention on people inside the organisation.

- Explaining why it matters in simple language

- Focusing on colleagues you want to include

- Creating an inclusive culture

Inclusion begins at home.

The other stuff can wait.

There are some people who you should remove your attention from.

Everyone’s got an agenda.

I hate being caught in someone else’s agenda.

Especially if it’s not in my best interests.

I see it happening all the time.

Here’s what I mean:

DEI experts are selling you on why it’s relevant.

There are magazine articles, social media posts saying why DEI matters.

It helps their personal agenda.

DEI critics are selling you on why it’s a problem.

They’re getting a lot of momentum too.

In the same places and they’re feeling stronger than ever.

It helps their personal agenda.

Everyone has an agenda.

Including me.

 I’m on a mission to help a million people like you

To make your workplace inclusive.

My agenda requires you to think for yourself.

Too often in life I’ve been trapped in someone’s agenda.

Maybe other people are thinking for you.

Other people are clear about their agenda.

Maybe it’s time for you to get clear about yours. 

Let’s talk about inclusion

We think of Inclusion as a systematic business strategy to ensure everyone shares the same advantages and benefits.

- Everyone can perform

- Everyone can belong

- Everyone can reach their potential

I repeat that everyday.

That makes sense to me. 

What makes sense to you?

This is a useful starting point.

So with all this in mind. Where should you place your attention?

We say high impact inclusion work

Step 1: Earn the trust of your colleagues.

If you have no buy-in from leadership.

It’s because they don’t believe in you yet.

This means you get no engagement.

Solution: Position yourself as a credible advisor.

Step 2: Optimise for Measurable Results

If you have nothing important to show.

It’s because you’re focused on the wrong things.

This means no one cares about what you’re doing yet.

Solution: Focus on solving key business problems.

Step 3: Implement a Systematic Process

If you can’t repeat your results.

It’s because the work isn’t sustainable yet.

This means your efforts lack longevity.

Solution: Introduce a tried and tested method.

By following these steps, you will get buy-in for your work, deliver results that matter and consistently make progress.

This is where I encourage you to put your attention.

Everything else is a distraction.

Next year we’re creating a program to help you to achieve this.

Join our waiting list today to make that a reality

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We’re piloting it as we speak.

Send me a message here. Dr. Jonathan Ashong-Lamptey if you want to discuss this further.

Have you shared this with a colleague yet?

Think about who needs to know this.

They need a friend like you.

As always

I’m cheering you on.

Dr. Jonathan