Diversity managed well has amazing outcomes, but diversity managed badly – or not managed at all – is a recipe for disaster!
Have your leaders experienced any of the following:
- Overbearing behaviour or dominance from some team members when it comes to problem-solving or bringing forward issues?
- Certain team members less willing to come forward and talk to you about what’s going on?
- Microaggressions or inconsiderate behaviour in lunchrooms?
- The same people attend meetings consistently, while others stay at their desks, working hard but not engaging?
- A team environment that doesn’t let every member participate?
- Social events that aren’t inclusive of some people’s religious beliefs or personal circumstances.
- Employees forming groups or excluding others?
- People who undermine processes to get better outcomes for themselves?
If so, your organisation could be struggling with a lack of inclusive systems and leadership.
Diversity without inclusion leads to disastrous outcomes for businesses
When people don’t have a strong sense of belonging at work, they experience significant levels of stress. Leaders will see this as training that doesn’t stick, mistakes being made and high levels of absenteeism.
On an organisation level, companies may be battling high staff turnover and low retention, trouble filling roles and a culture of not speaking up about workplace issues.
All of this leads to lower productivity, less innovation, recurrent safety issues and a potentially high level of complaints. Leaders in these kinds of workplaces will struggle.
Complexity for Leaders is Increasing
Added to the issues that come with poorly managed diversity, complexity for leaders has increased over the past decades. There are more rules and regulations, and in leaner organisations, time is a valuable commodity for leaders.
Want to better manage diversity and take the pressure off leaders?
Register for Inclusion Habits
The Signs of an Inclusive Workplace
A Deloitte study has shown that the behaviour of leaders, no matter their level, can drive up to 70 percentage points of difference between the number of employees who feel highly included and those who do not. Further to this, it’s been found that managers impact our mental health more than doctors (51%), therapists (41%), and just as much as our spouses (69%)!
In contrast to what you might see in an environment where diversity is not being managed well, the markers of a cohesive environment tell a very different story.
You’ll see:
- People raising concerns in a respectful way.
- Leaders communicating cross-culturally with confidence.
- Respect for one another’s different beliefs.
- Strong collaboration and positive performance markers.
However, this isn’t about luck of the draw, nor is it a case of some leaders just get it, and others don’t.
Inclusion, like any other business target, requires effort at all levels – starting with leaders.
Organisations Need to Enable Inclusive Leadership
The ability to manage people inclusively is very different from technical expertise. It’s not about how many years of management experience leaders have, it’s about understanding what inclusive leadership is, why it’s essential in managing diverse teams, and how to incorporate it in everyday behaviours.
However, it’s not simply a case of straight theoretical learning. Inclusion is a behaviour, and as we all know, changing behaviour is not as simple as it sounds.
Keen to support your frontline and middle managers in building their inclusive leadership capability?
Register for Inclusion Habits
The Only Inclusion Program Tailored for Operations Leaders
NAWO’s Inclusion Habits for Operations Leaders program ensures that front-line operational leaders make the essential connection between how inclusive their behaviour is and business outcomes.
The program is specifically designed to change behaviours, embed new habits and fit within the specific demands of operations environments.
Learning That Works with the Day-to-Day
Leaders are supported to get the most out of the program while maintaining their regular workplace routines.
- Short, daily app-based modules.
- Structured projects that put learning into practice.
- Regular opportunities to connect with other participants.
- Support and advice from an ‘Inclusion Coach’ and the NAWO team.
We know front-line leaders often aren’t sitting at a desk all day. That’s why all learning can be done on a mobile phone or tablet and completed within a normal workday. Our program complements and supports what managers are already doing.
More Than Professional Development
“You can’t leverage diversity without providing an environment where people feel safe to bring their whole selves, and the brilliance of their diversity, to the table – that’s an environment of inclusion.” – Louise Weine, NAWO CEO.
Need a cost effective professional development that delivers immediate impact?
Members can access this program for $79 per week over ten weeks and gain practical tools for everyday leadership. PLUS there is a discount for booking for 3 or more participants!
Non members can also access the program.
Click here for more informationProgram Overview
LEAD YOUR OPERATIONS TEAM INCLUSIVELY, EVERYDAY
Real change starts from the top and needs to be woven into the fabric of daily operations, not just reserved for events like International Women’s Day or left solely to HR.
The Inclusion Habits for Operations Leaders program is designed to drive this transformation.
This 10-week program, developed in collaboration with NAWO member organisations, taps into the power of neuroscience, which tells us that new habits develop in as few as 50 repetitions, technology and personalised coaching to:
- Learn: Complete 10-20 minutes of habit-changing, app-based ‘micro-learning’ a day.
- Experiment: Throughout the program, participants put their newfound learning into action through exploring real-life, operations-industry-based scenarios and resources that bring the concepts of inclusion and equity to life and trying out practical ‘experiments’ that boost personal growth and organisational impact.
- Discuss: Attend regular webinars and benefit from frequent check-ins with experienced ‘Inclusion Coaches’ to reinforce the app-based learning.
Are you ready to lead inclusively?
We can schedule the program for intact teams (all participants are from the same company) for whatever dates work best for you and your employees. Contact us on [email protected] to discuss. We will also be running one ‘open cohort’ for anyone to join, from 14 July to 28 September 2025.
Contact us about running an intact team for your workplace
INCLUSION HABITS FOR OPERATIONS LEADERS IS RECOMMENDED FOR MEN AND WOMEN WHO ARE:
- Emerging leaders
- Front line managers
- Middle managers
- Senior leaders
- P&C Business Partners
$799 +GST per participant for NAWO members
Save $$ when you sign up 3 or more!
Register for the July-September open cohortWhat our graduates say about the program
As part of an experiment we walked the factory and asked many team members what they’d change to improve their jobs. The response was outstanding, and offered up some issues that we could fix immediately. Team members can see that we care about them and are listening to their feedback.
Program participant
The program prompted me to reflect upon my perception, habits and biases. It empowered me with the knowledge that by changing my own behaviour and outlook I can be a great leader to my team.
Program participant
The program shed a light on how much more we can learn about DEI, as individuals, teams, businesses and communities by engaging with our people. As a result, I’m getting better at being OK with the discomfort of asking questions and challenging norms.
Program participant
Program Development
A program developed by Ops Leaders for Ops Leaders
What makes Inclusion Habits for Operations Leaders so impactful is that the course was developed in direct collaboration with operations leaders like you, ensuring that it speaks your language and addresses your specific needs.
This means that the corporate scenarios, imagery and language reflect real-world experiences and that you’ll find yourself in familiar territory with terminology, situations and examples drawn directly from the challenges and triumphs of your peers.
Our development partners
We’d like to thank the following organisations for supporting the pilot program and helping make the course content so powerful:
GWF
- Linfox
- Opal
- Programmed
- Orora
- Sydney Water
- dss+
Developed in collaboration with Emberin.
Discover Dulux's Inclusive Leadership Journey
04.02.25
NAWO x Case Studies ‘DuluxGroup – Investing in inclusive leadership’
14.03.25
DuluxGroup: Inclusive Leadership Perspectives
10.02.24
NAWO x Case Studies ‘DuluxGroup – Flexible and family friendly-shifts in operations’
FAQs
General FAQs
Q: What’s the time commitment?
A: The online learning takes approximately 10-20 minutes each weekday to complete, and can be done on any mobile device over seven weeks.
To graduate, participants also need to conduct and document five ‘experiments’. These experiments are not meant to be additional work – instead, they’re intended to be opportunities for participants to try different approaches to their existing work.
Participants are also invited to attend two 45 minute webinars and join one or more of the ‘Office Hours’ sessions to connect with others and their Inclusion Coach. In total, the maximum estimated time commitment across the 10 weeks is 15-20 hours.
Q: Do participants need a computer or desk to complete the course?
A: To ensure frontline staff can participate, all of the online learning is accessible by both mobile app and web browser. Note that participants may need access to a computer for entering their experiments into a shared online space and to join the webinars.
Q: When is the program running in 2025?
A: We can schedule the program for intact teams (all participants are from the same company) for whatever dates work best for you and your employees. Contact us on [email protected] to discuss. We will also be running one ‘open cohort’ for anyone to join, from 14 July to 28 September 2025. Visit nawo.org.au/inclusion to register.
Q: What support do participants receive?
A: In addition to weekly check-in emails and the webinars led by the NAWO team, all participants are placed in a small group led by an Inclusion Coach. These coaches are there to provide motivation, advice and support across the 10 weeks, and are either past participants in the program, members of the NAWO team, or senior leaders from the participating organisation who are passionate about inclusion. Participants can connect with their coaches at the fortnightly ‘Office Hours’ sessions, via email, or in an exclusive Microsoft Teams space.
Q: How much does it cost?
A: NAWO members: $799 plus GST + booking fees ($699 plus GST for >3 registrations).
Non NAWO members: $1,200 plus GST + booking fees.
Call us to talk about the discounted cost of running it for 25 or more of your leaders as an intact team