What Does DEI Mean to You?

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I first came across the term DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) about 10 years ago at a workshop in England.

Since then, I’ve been thinking about its meaning for myself and work. I would like to share with you how I see it and what it means to me.

D

To me, diversity means respecting that we are all different and all represent different ages, genders, cultures, races, religions, ethnicities, disabilities, and sexualities. We should see the good in being different and all our differences should be seen as an opportunity rather than a threat. Even though it might be easier to interact with similar people with whom we share a common background, we wouldn’t move forward if we all thought the same way.  

Diversity is a richness that should be embraced and seen as a huge opportunity to widen our thinking and learn new things.

At work it is a true benefit to have diverse teams with different backgrounds, as it opens new perspectives and possibilities to see things from different angles and develop something new. Besides, wouldn’t it be dull if we would all be the same?

E

I see that equity is about respecting each other, as we are all equally important. At work we are like a sports team, where all team members have their own roles to play, and when we win, it’s a team effort to which everyone has contributed. We simply couldn’t do without each other. I consider myself the coach of the Ensto team who needs all its players and functions from R&D to production and sales to support functions to be able to perform. We all push our team forward with our input.

Therefore, we need to appreciate each other’s contribution to the common good. The way we treat each other says a lot about our values and company culture, and sometimes it’s important to stop for a moment to think about how I encounter different people. Do I see them how I would like to be seen myself?

I

Inclusion is about asking others to join and making sure no one is left out. At work, it can mean inviting people to common get-togethers and gatherings, and I see that it’s especially up to leaders to lead by example. However, we should also remember not to ask people to do or be something that they are not. We should instead encourage people to be who they are, as we all have the freedom to be ourselves.

Inclusion means for me also that we should not be in silos with our own people, but to be interested in what others are doing and interacting with other people outside your team or business area. This way we can learn from each other.

I believe that knowing and accepting yourself are the keys to being able to understand and accept others, too. Develop your own strengths but also work with your weaknesses and your unconscious biases, which we all have, and which affect the way we think and act, to encounter others more openly.

I want to encourage all of you to go outside your comfort zone and challenge yourself to learn new things and meet new people. Let’s be curious and above all, encounter each person as a person – just like we would wish others to treat us.

 

Markku Moilanen

The writer of the blog is the President and CEO of Ensto Group.