Why are inclusive behaviours important in the workplace? Ft. Marsha Ramroop

Inclusive Behaviors: A Deep Dive into the Essence of Equality and Diversity in Our Workplaces

Introduction

Hello, LinkedIn family! Today, let’s delve into a topic that is pivotal yet often overlooked – Inclusive Behaviors. In a candid conversation with Marcia Ramroop, an inclusion strategist, we explore the depths and significance of inclusive behaviors, especially in the architectural and built environment sectors.

1. Understanding Inclusive Behaviors

Inclusive behaviors are not merely about policies or increasing diversity in terms of race, gender, or other demographic factors. It’s about introspection and understanding how our behaviors influence the work environment. It’s about ensuring that our actions and organizational culture are welcoming and supportive of all individuals, regardless of their background or identity.

2. The Importance in Architecture

In the architectural world, inclusive behaviors are crucial for several reasons:

• Attracting Talent: Ensuring a diverse influx of ideas and perspectives.
• Retention: Keeping talent by providing an environment where everyone feels valued.
• Inclusive Design: Creating designs that cater to a wide array of individuals and communities.
• Client & Community Engagement: Ensuring that interactions and engagements are respectful and considerate of all parties involved.

3. Developing Inclusive Behaviors

The journey towards developing inclusive behaviors begins with motivation. It’s about genuinely wanting to be inclusive and understanding that to be human is to be biased. It involves practicing inclusive actions, acknowledging mistakes, listening to feedback, learning, reflecting, and resolving to move forward differently.

4. Cultural Intelligence: A Key Component

Cultural intelligence is defined as the capability to work and relate effectively with people who are different from you. It involves:

• Motivation: A genuine curiosity and willingness to understand and adapt to cultural diversity.
• Knowledge: Understanding how cultures are similar and different.
• Strategy: Planning in diverse cultural settings.
• Action: Developing the ability to adapt when relating and working in multicultural contexts.

5. The Practical Application

Inclusive behaviors and cultural intelligence are not just theoretical concepts but are applicable in practical scenarios, especially in architecture and design. From ensuring that designs are inclusive and cater to diverse populations to ensuring that the workplace environment is conducive and supportive of all employees, these concepts are integral.

6. The Global Perspective

Inclusive behaviors and cultural intelligence are not confined to local or national boundaries. They have a global application, ensuring that even in international contexts, professionals can work and relate effectively across cultural and demographic differences, fostering a more inclusive and supportive global professional community.

Dive deeper into this insightful conversation here.

A huge thank you to Marcia Ramroop for sharing her invaluable insights. Connect with her on LinkedIn for more on inclusive behaviors and cultural intelligence.

If you found this article insightful, please hit the like button, share it with your network, and let’s keep the conversation going in the comments below!

Wondering why inclusive behaviours are a big deal or how they play into your workplace? Get ready for a no-holds-barred Q&A session where Marsha will be answering just that! We’ll explore the importance of these behaviours, how we can develop them, and the role of Cultural Intelligence in it all. 

Skeptical about the relevance to architecture? Stick with us as we bridge the gap and discuss how this all fits into design. Want to learn more? You’re in the right place! 

With a storied career that spans the BBC to the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) and beyond, Marsha is no stranger to advocating for diversity and inclusion. Her culture change programme at RIBA alone saw a 100% recommendation feedback from managers and significant behavioural shift within months! 

From understanding the struggles of traditional professions to fostering change in organizational culture, Marsha is an expert at ensuring clear communication. Join us as we tap into her expertise to understand how to create a more inclusive and innovative architectural landscape.