Leadership matters: Creating an inclusive workplace culture through role modelling

In this feature, experts from Tripartite Alliance for Fair and Progressive Employment Practices (TAFEP) will provide tips to create fair and progressive workplaces in Singapore. In this issue, we discuss how to foster an inclusive workplace culture through role modelling.

Diversity is inherent in today’s workplaces. Inclusion, however, is not something that happens by chance. It has to be consciously cultivated and reinforced so it can become part of the workplace culture.

So how can leaders go about promoting inclusion throughout an organisation? Leaders need to walk the talk by consciously cultivating and reinforcing an inclusive workplace culture so as to encourage others to emulate their behaviour.

This is known as role modelling, one of the most powerful and cost-effective tools that leaders can use to promote inclusion.

The importance of role modelling should not be underestimated. Employees look for cues that communicate both the characteristics and intentions of their leaders. They will observe how their leaders define respect, whether the leaders value inclusion, and whether the organisation’s values apply to themselves.

Hence, a leader’s day-to-day behaviour is critical to help reinforce an inclusive organisational culture which, in turn, shapes workplace culture and employees’ behaviours.

Leaders can foster an inclusive work environment through role modelling by following these 3As:

Awareness

Everyone has unconscious biases that influence how they interpret and respond to situations. These in turn, impact the decisions they make. Effective leaders proactively undergo self-assessment or seek feedback from team members so as to develop greater self-awareness.

These leaders understand the impact their behaviour has on others and put in effort to cultivate inclusive language and behaviours by mirroring the traits of successful leaders.

 Authenticity

Employees are quick to recognise when a leader fails to lead by example and walk the talk. While mistrust affects employee morale and productivity, trust creates environments thatencourage inclusion and innovation.

Leaders are those who show themselves to be approachable, yet vulnerable, with shortcomings they strive to overcome. These are the ones who will be regarded by their employees as more convincing role models.

Accountability

Leaders who take personal accountability for inclusion are effective drivers ofemployee behaviour. By consciously recognising inclusion as a key driver of business decisions and incorporating it as a success indicator, it demonstrates the leader’s commitment to address any underlying factors that may limit workplace inclusiveness.

When leaders take steps towards being accountable role models, employees will also align their decisions and behaviours accordingly.

Role modelling is central to inculcating an inclusive and productive workplace. Those that are making the most progress are leaders who lead by example. After all, actions speak louder than words. The right behaviour will not only help shape employees’ performance and interactions with co-workers and customers, but also drive business growth.

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TAFEP holds regular workshops to help employers and HR professionals keep abreast of HR best practices. Visit www.tafep.sg to find out more.

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