In this episode of Breaking it Down with Catalyst, a video YouTube series, host Rissa Pappas, Director, Production Editor and Catalyst experts, Emily Shaffer, Senior Director, Research and Sherazad Adib, Senior Director, Corporate Engagement delve into the art of crafting effective DEI communication strategies.
These Catalyst experts share the essential steps that DEI and HR practitioners, as well as senior leaders, should take to communicate the benefits of DEI initiatives to employees. From aligning with your organization’s brand promise to examining the underlying rationale for DEI efforts, we provide practical tips to ensure your messaging resonates authentically.
Uncover strategies for addressing the big question: who truly benefits from DEI initiatives?
Business leaders and DEI practitioners can learn how to articulate the collective benefits of fostering a more equitable and inclusive workplace culture to engage all employees, regardless of gender, background, or role. Read more in “How to Talk About Diversity to Employees to Achieve Your Company’s Objectives.”
Breaking it Down with Catalyst is a video YouTube series where Catalyst researchers and experts break down Catalyst gender equity; and diversity, equity and inclusion research.
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Transcript
00:00:09,333
Hello, I’m Rissa Pappas. I’m a Production Editor at Catalyst and I’m joined by my fellow Catalystas, Emily and Sherazad.
Please say hello.
00:00:19,625
Hi, Rissa.
I’m Emily Shaffer. I am a Senior Director in the Research Department at Catalyst, and I am based out of Phoenix, Arizona.
00:00:28,458
Hi, my name is Sherazad Adib. I’m a Senior Director at Catalyst and based in Montreal, Canada.
00:00:34,541
Thanks so much for joining me. We’re here to talk about how DEI and HR practitioners and even senior leaders can better communicate the benefits of DEI to their employees.
00:00:44,666
So, Emily, when they’re building their talking points, what’s the first step they should take?
00:00:50,166
First, I would say to align with your brand promise.
So, go back to those basics and really take a look at your organization’s mission statement, and your formal and informal values at your organization.
So then you can really make it clear how your DEI efforts align with those values. And alignment here is absolutely key because you don’t want to seem as though your efforts are performative or not genuine. So, where you’re saying one thing and maybe doing another.
Companies should be reflecting that they are using internally about the benefits of DEI and how it’s going to be received internally and if their leaders have enough information and support to communicate some of the key messages so that they can discuss internally with their teams.
00:01:39,833
Yeah.
And I think for the last thing, it’s really important to know your audience.
So, I think right now, especially given the current climate, people are really having to make the business case for DEI because they have to show that it provides value to the organization.
00:01:54,250
And, you know, of course, we all know that it does. But they have to make this argument to ensure that the programs continue. So, it’s also possible, though, that while you might have to make this case, you can bring it back to your organization’s values and make it clear that when it comes down to it, these actions are the right thing to do.
00:02:14,500
Thanks for building on each other’s ideas. So Sherazad, as someone who works closely with companies committed to DEI, what are the biggest challenges that companies face when they’re trying to craft their DEI messaging?
One thing that I hear a lot, in the current context, is that some men feel excluded from the DEI initiatives.
And some companies are starting to hear some complaints. And this could even come from their customers. And this comes back really to the big question of, “Who really benefits from DEI?”
And that’s where I think companies can really do a job of explaining how we all benefit from having a more equitable and inclusive working culture.
00:03:09,291
I couldn’t agree more. And thankfully, we have the research that proves those points.
00:03:14,208
Thank you for talking with me today. And if you want to learn more, you can read our reports and learn about our programs at catalyst.org.