The Inclusive Leadership Handbook – Executive Blueprint for Building Culture That Creates Employee Engagement (2024)

GlobeNewswire

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RALEIGH, N.C., May 21, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The fundamentals of leadership are changing. Executives across the globe realize that building a strong culture is essential in achieving sustainable success. Yet, most indicators show that employee engagement and trust in leadership is not keeping pace.

Changing the dynamic of employee engagement by focusing on inclusive leadership competencies, Donald Thompson and Kurt Merriweather have written The Inclusive Leadership Handbook: Balancing People and Performance for Sustainable Growth. Leaders at all levels will learn the skills and mindset essential in creating innovative, efficient, and collaborative work environments that enable organizations to win in this new, culture-centric economy.

“Donald Thompson and Kurt Merriweather have written an important book that enables leaders to steer through the intricacies of inclusive leadership in today’s global corporate landscape,” said Timothy Humphrey, Chief Analytics Officer, NC Senior State Executive & RTP Senior Location Executive, IBM. “I’ve witnessed firsthand how the principles and ideas addressed in The Inclusive Leadership Handbook can create stronger teams and deepen innovation.”

Thompson and Merriweather place particular focus on the role of leadership teams in long-term organizational success. The authors draw on decades of personal experience leading teams, coaching executives, and building successful companies to offer actionable guidance, hands-on exercises, and engaging prompts that deepen learning.

“Inclusive leadership turns traditional management thinking on its head by putting people at the center of success,” said Laurie Ruettimann, author of Betting On You and celebrated global HR consultant. “The Inclusive Leadership Handbook is your guide in the evolving landscape of workplace dynamics and offers practical approaches to create environments where diversity thrives, engagement soars, and a new culture emerges—one that fosters lasting success and employee fulfillment.”

Key features of The Inclusive Leadership Handbook include:

  • Strategies for building employee engagement centered on leadership competencies that contribute to psychological safety.
  • Practical steps to unlock the full potential of every team member.
  • Insights and case studies from global thought leaders on fostering workplace creativity, innovation, and excellence.
  • Guidance on creating cultures that strengthen belonging and well-being.

“Inclusive leadership expands and amplifies the talents of a workforce that feels psychologically safe, gives them a deeper sense of belonging, and places engagement at the center of their work lives,” said Alan King, President and CEO, Workplace Options, who penned the book’s Foreword. “Embracing the inclusive leadership paradigm shift opens a path to a prosperous and sustainable future that will be made possible through the wellbeing of your most valuable asset—your people.”

Advanced Praise
The Inclusive Leadership Handbook skillfully merges inclusive leadership principles with practical strategies, providing a blueprint for stronger culture, innovation, and employee engagement.” – Rekha Daniel-Kimani, Head of Total Rewards, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging, and Strategic HR Operations & Growth, BAYADA Home Health Care

“Embracing inclusive leadership is a moral imperative and a strategic business advantage. This insightful handbook provides a comprehensive roadmap for cultivating a diverse and empowered workforce that unlocks the full potential of every team member. It is a must-read for leaders committed to creating a culture of belonging where all voices are heard and valued.” – Nils Vinje, Founder, LeadershipMBA.com

The Inclusive Leadership Handbook is the blueprint for sustainable success in the modern workplace. By focusing on people at the heart of culture, inclusive leadership becomes a game-changer, demonstrating an enriched corporate ethos by fostering well-being and belonging. Inclusive leadership starts with the C-suite charting a focused path through their organization, which unlocks better innovation, enhanced creativity, and resilient teams.” – Greg Boone, CEO, Cleartelligence

“As an executive coach and consultant, I have seen how the focus on culture building and creating strong leadership teams can lead to supercharged growth and organizational transformation. Filled with thoughtful analysis, actionable insights, and a well-crafted narrative, The Inclusive Leadership Handbook proves that inclusive leadership is more than an ethical imperative, but the strategic key to unlocking innovation, resilience, and unparalleled business success.” – Ann McCloskey, Managing Director, Accel-KKR

“I highly recommend The Inclusive Leadership Handbook to anyone seeking to foster a more inclusive and empowering work environment. This book is a comprehensive guide filled with practical strategies and insights that challenge conventional leadership norms.” – Jason Gillikin, CEO, Earfluence & Podcast Ally

ABOUT THE DIVERSITY MOVEMENT
The Diversity Movement (TDM), a Workplace Options company, helps organizations drive growth through culture-led initiatives that lead to enhanced well-being, belonging, and trust. By helping leaders and their teams be more productive, collaborative, and innovative, TDM enables organizations to deepen employee engagement and deliver scalable business impact. Our integrated approach empowers leaders to create inclusive culture through the application of data analytics, award-winning content, technology, and DEI expertise. The result – better business outcomes delivered by high-performing, resilient teams. For more information and resources, visit thediversitymovement.com.

ABOUT WORKPLACE OPTIONS
Founded in 1982, Workplace Options (WPO) is the largest independent provider of holistic wellbeing solutions. Through customized programs, and a comprehensive global network of credentialed providers and professionals, WPO supports individuals to become healthier, happier, and more productive both personally and professionally. Trusted by 56 percent of Fortune 500 companies, WPO delivers high-quality care digitally and in-person to more than 79 million people across 116,000 organizations in more than 200 countries and territories.

Contact:
Bob Batchelor, VP, Global Brand and Content
Bob.Batchelor@workplaceoptions.com

Jennifer Dart, Senior Corporate Communications Manager
Jennifer.Dart@workplaceoptions.com

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/bc4b4834-ad5d-4af4-8978-733807a26a30

The Inclusive Leadership Handbook – Executive Blueprint for Building Culture That Creates Employee Engagement (1)
The Inclusive Leadership Handbook – Executive Blueprint for Building Culture That Creates Employee Engagement (2)

The Inclusive Leadership Handbook – Executive Blueprint for Building Culture That Creates Employee Engagement (3)

The Inclusive Leadership Handbook: Balancing People and Performance for Sustainable Growth

The Inclusive Leadership Handbook – Executive Blueprint for Building Culture That Creates Employee Engagement (4)

Executive blueprint for building culture that drives employee engagement and trust in leadership. Donald Thompson and Kurt Merriweather Reveal Secrets to High-Performing Teams Built on Trust, Well-being, and Belonging

The Inclusive Leadership Handbook – Executive Blueprint for Building Culture That Creates Employee Engagement (2024)

FAQs

What is the effect of inclusive leadership on employee engagement? ›

In the same vein, fostering inclusiveness is crucial to providing a conducive environment for individuals or groups. Inclusive leadership (IL) has positively impacted employees, including greater work behaviors, performance, and engagement (Hirak et al., 2012; Javed et al., 2019; Mitchell et al., 2015).

What is the inclusive leadership theory? ›

Inclusive leadership means having the ability to lead a diverse group of people while demonstrating respect for each person's unique characteristics without bias, says Smaiyra Million P'21, executive director of Babson's Arthur M.

What is inclusive leadership pdf? ›

Inclusive leadership is needed to support an inclusive climate in which different team members are valued for what they bring to work practices. Inclusive leadership is crucial for fostering inclusiveness in diverse teams.

What is inclusive leadership training? ›

This training helps leaders understand and practice the principles and strategies for creating a system that appreciates and values the diverse range of opinions and perspectives present in their work environment.

How leadership can contribute to drive employee engagement? ›

Leaders can enhance employee engagement by actively listening to their teams and responding to their needs with empathy and support. Regular communication, clear goal-setting, and transparent feedback mechanisms help build a trusting and motivating environment.

How does diversity and inclusion increase employee engagement? ›

It sparks motivation and determination to succeed when diverse employees see leaders from similar backgrounds who may have faced similar obstacles achieve career growth through hard work and dedication What's more, diverse leadership teams cultivate a sense of belonging among employees from underrepresented backgrounds ...

What are the three most important leadership traits of inclusive leaders? ›

Open-mindedness, a passion for learning, and a desire for exposure to different ideas have fast become leadership traits crucial to success, especially in challenging times.

What are the 6 C's of inclusive leadership at Deloitte? ›

The framework defines inclusive leadership through six traits: commitment, courage, cognizance of bias, curiosity, cultural intelligence, and collaboration.

What are the three strategies of inclusive leadership? ›

To build a successful culture based on inclusion, we've identified the steps in three key areas that the inclusive leader must take:
  • Step One: Self-Reflection. First, understand yourself. ...
  • Step Two: Building an Inclusive Team Culture. However, awareness is not enough. ...
  • Step Three: Create an Inclusive Company Culture.

Which is a main element of inclusive leadership? ›

The current research has identified similar leadership behaviors (that is, personal risk-taking, humility, and empowerment) as important to inclusive leadership. However, our framework expands on these ideas in the broader context of diversity of markets, ideas, customers, and talent.

Why is inclusive leadership difficult? ›

Being an inclusive leader may require you to change your fundamental beliefs, challenge your pre-conceptions and unlearn previous behaviour which may have brought you success in the past. Because you need to counter your own affinity bias to proactively build your network and teams with people who are not like you.

What are the results of inclusive leadership? ›

Leaders play a particularly critical role: They account for a difference of up to 70 percentage points in employees' experience of belongingness and psychological safety, and inclusive leaders see a 17% increase in team performance, a 20% increase in decision-making quality, and a 29% increase in team collaboration.

What is the correlation between leadership and employee engagement? ›

Ways Leaders Affect Engagement Levels

The highest driver of engagement is whether employees feel their leaders genuinely care about them. But "only 28% strongly agree that leadership genuinely cares about their health and well-being." 76% of employees who have empathetic managers are very engaged at work.

How does inclusive leadership influence decision-making? ›

Leaders encourage collaboration and share decision-making responsibilities, ensuring that each voice is heard and considered. This inclusive approach not only empowers employees but also drives them to be more invested in the outcomes.

How inclusive leadership impacts employee innovative behavior? ›

Therefore, a high-quality inclusive leadership atmosphere within an organization can effectively restrain employees' silent behavior, promote employees' speech behavior, and improve the frequency and quality of leader-member exchange, thus in the process, synchronously stimulating employees' innovative behavior.

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