Inclusion and belonging are essential to building a workplace where every individual feels valued, seen, and empowered to thrive. When human resource leaders provide employees with the space and opportunity to explore diverse perspectives, it drives innovation and engagement that enhances operations.
At 84.51°, a retail data science, media, and insights company, one of the ways we create new spaces to elevate voices, share experiences, and support one another is through our people-led teams (PLTs). PLTs are resource groups that are created by our associates, for our associates. They help promote our unique differences and celebrate our shared passions for our cultures, family, and community.
Our PLTs have been great partners in helping our Human Resource teams as we move along our journey of inclusion and belonging and seek to lead with intentional actions. We want our associates to feel empowered to form workplace communities through shared interests and experiences, because it helps to support our goal of improving the total well-being of our associates.
These teams foster a culture where everyone feels respected. They promote a workplace where voices are valued and contributions matter. And they help build trust and psychological safety, so associates can bring their authentic selves to work.
Creating Community
PLTs are often started with grassroots efforts. An associate (or associates) with the interest creates the group, finds an executive sponsor, and begins to advertise the organization. The team receives a small budget from the business to sponsor the organization’s activities, and associates interested in joining can email the group to express interest and receive updates and announcements from the team.
HR leaders can also support employees by launching teams that focus on common demographics or special interests. Some popular themes to consider when forming these teams include sustainability, charitable giving, health and wellness, and a variety of shared lived experiences.
Strength in Diversity
All our associates are invited to join a PLT or start their own, because every team helps us evolve and improve our inclusive culture. The teams provide safe spaces for our associates to connect, support, and grow. In doing so, they spark conversations that help push our organization forward. Our customers come from many different lived experiences, so we serve them best when we embrace our own diversity.
Creating inclusion and belonging takes a commitment to action, and HR leaders play an important role in shaping an environment where associates can be authentic, find support, and access advocacy that enables them to thrive. When every associate feels valued for their contributions, it promotes organizational success and growth. Because diversity drives innovation, and our differences make us stronger together.
Connie Ross leads the charge for organizational progress with respect to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) at 84.51°. She ensures that a DEIB lens is applied across organizational decision making and transformation.