Stepping Into Inclusion
A Framework To Become A More Inclusive Leader
This book is for leaders who are interested in introspection and learning about how to become a more impactful leader.
Stepping into Inclusion encourages business leaders to examine the way they make decisions about talent when hiring, promoting, and developing the people they lead. It’s a personal journey a leader must take to connect who they are to what they do.
Author Jaclyn Weitzenfeld uses her positive experience with Alcoholics Anonymous to develop a framework that brings inclusion to the forefront of how one leads, and create an environment filled with diverse experiences, stronger working relationships, and better business outcomes.
By consistently working these steps, you will be equipped to reconsider your beliefs regarding talent and decisions at work. And in so doing, you’ll optimize your organizational performance and build a better workplace culture.
Stepping into Inclusion’s framework is designed to evolve over time, because inclusion—and how we define it—will evolve in the workplace. As you grow as a person and as a leader, what is important to you will naturally evolve. The way in which you create a sense of belonging will need to evolve with the inevitable change companies face in our ever-changing world.
As leaders, we are responsible for continuing to lead inclusively so people can find their place within the organizations in which they work and thrive (for the company and their career). This work offers you the tools needed to make thoughtful, inclusive decisions with the purposeful intention to make you excited about changes that lie ahead.
Are you making the necessary leadership choices toward inclusion and diversity?
The Inclusion Questionnaire
Have you ever passed up an opportunity to help someone develop because you didn’t have time?
Have you ever been hesitant to give your time to someone whom you didn’t have a connection with?
Have you ever passed over giving someone a promotion or opportunity because of a past experience (i.e., because they didn’t contribute in a past meeting, or contributed an idea you didn’t find valuable)?
Do you avoid difficult conversations or giving people feedback? Have you ever received feedback that you avoid confrontation at work?
Do you tend to listen to some people more than others?
Do you tend to go to the same people whenever you need help?
Do you discuss ideas with people who think differently than you? And are you truly listening to what they’re saying, or are you just waiting to get your point across?
Are you consciously expanding your network to include people whom you don’t feel naturally connected to?
Have you ever made a talent/people decision based on subjective or hearsay information rather than objective evidence?
If you answered yes to any of the questions above, then Stepping into Inclusion can help you to become a more effective leader.
"The way in which we create a sense of belonging will need to evolve with the inevitable change companies face in our ever-changing world."
—Jaclyn Weitzenfeld
A Directory of this Site
“Share Your Experience” Page
Leaders can practice the Servant Leadership philosophy by sharing the insights they gained from the work this book asks of them, so others can learn from their experience.
There are four categories:
Inclusive Experiences
Leaders share personal stories of how one created an inclusive experience at work.
(I’ve included some of my own in this section)
The Staff Development Inventory
The Hiring/Recruiting Inventory
The Promotions Inventory
Each inventory allows one to speak directly to the process and your resulting outcomes. All submissions are housed here, so leaders can gain insight into how this work is being applied in other environments.
Lastly, there is a form at the bottom of the page for you to submit your own experience after going through this framework.
“Inventory Templates” Page
This houses the inventory templates to put forth the subsequent action plans this framework asks of you.