Impactful Inclusion Toolkit

ACTIVITY 1Know Thyself

“To know thyself is the beginning of wisdom.”

—Socrates

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You may have heard the phrase “Diversity is a fact; inclusion is a choice.” Think about that. Diversity is a fact of life. We are all different. As soon as you have two people in the room, you have human diversity. Inclusion, on the other hand, can happen only when the people in the room intentionally choose to value and respect one another's differences. Diversity in the workplace is about intentionally hiring individuals from underrepresented groups with the right skills and competencies in support of organizational goals. Inclusion is about empowering that blend to work together toward a shared goal, where difference is considered a strength and cultivated toward the good of the individual as well as the organization. Each day we are faced with decisions on how best to collaborate, deal with conflict, and show appreciation for one another. It's a constant process of choosing consciously or unconsciously words and actions where others are made to feel either included or excluded. Engaging across differences creates both challenges and opportunities. We must learn to meet people where they are, including those who don't appreciate working with people unlike themselves as we work toward creating a sense of belonging and building an atmosphere of community. We start to make mindful choices during interactions and sometimes in challenging situations where we must be wholly present and reflective, ...