Diversity, Equity & Inclusion For Dummies

Chapter 3

Cultivating Skills and Competencies for Leading Today’s Workers

IN THIS CHAPTER

Examining the variety of skills necessary for effectively leading diverse teams

Figuring out how to cultivate DEI whatever your leadership role

All too often, large and medium-sized organizations reward their most successful individual contributors by promoting them into leadership roles. Unfortunately, the skills needed to lead projects and other initiatives aren’t the same skills needed to be people leaders. In fact, being able to lead a successful team — where everyone feels valued, respected, and included — is one of the most difficult challenges leaders face in today’s global and diverse workforce.

In addition to being a subject matter expert in a particular role, division, or department, an effective leader also empowers, inspires, and develops a diverse team that performs at its best both personally and together. After all, leading a team of people would be the easiest thing in the world if everyone on your team was just like you. Without giving it a moment’s thought, you’d know exactly what your people needed from you to stay motivated; you’d know how to coach them and how to ensure they were most successful. But the truth is that even those team members who look and think like you ...