What does it mean to include everyone's culture in the workplace? Or really anywhere where people of varying life experiences connect in one place? Inclusivity is such a crucial part of human societies. We all thrive when supported, and we all desire to have some support in our lives. If you think back to the school playground as a child, when a group of children huddled together to play a game and they would leave out a couple of the other kids who didn't seem to match up to their energy no matter how hard they desired. This shows how naturally humans stick with what they prefer and what they are familiar with. It is a challenge well worth pushing through to overcome this preference, and discover the expanse of this world through the lense of acceptance.
Upon entering a new environment some things you might feel cautious of might be:
- do we speak the same language?
- would they like my food preferences?
- is my choice of music too loud or does it sound funny?
- does this dress look too traditional?
- do they understand what i meant when i said that?
To be inclusive of different ways of life requires mutual respect. Something as simple as saying hello and smiling when you walk into a workplace or gathering, sharing movie or song recommendations, and listening to someone share their story can go a long way. There's always a way to connect and make everyone feel safe and included. But most importantly, we must co-create an environment that allows us to be authentically ourselves without needing to explain why we deserve that basic right.
Cultural Inclusivity