What do you do if your transportation sector network lacks diversity and inclusivity?

1 Assess Needs

Begin by conducting a thorough assessment of your network's current state. This involves identifying the demographics of your staff, partners, and stakeholders. Understand the variety of backgrounds, experiences, and skills present within your network. If you find that certain groups are underrepresented or marginalized, this is the first area to address. It's also important to gauge the inclusivity of the workplace culture. Are there barriers that prevent certain individuals from feeling welcome or valued? Recognizing the specific needs of your network is the foundation for building a more diverse and inclusive environment.

2 Set Goals

Once you've assessed your network, set clear goals for diversity and inclusivity. These should be specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART). For instance, you might aim to increase the representation of underrepresented groups in leadership positions by a certain percentage within a year. Goals should align with the overall mission of your organization and be communicated clearly to all members of your network. This clarity will help ensure that everyone understands the importance of these objectives and works collaboratively towards achieving them.

4 Implement Changes

Implementation is where your plans take action. Start by rolling out new policies or procedures that have been developed to enhance diversity and inclusivity. This might include diversity training sessions, changes in recruitment strategies, or the introduction of new communication platforms to ensure all voices are heard. It's important to maintain transparency throughout the implementation process, keeping the network informed of changes and the reasons behind them. This transparency fosters trust and buy-in from all network members.

5 Monitor Progress

To ensure that your efforts are having the desired impact, you must monitor progress towards your diversity and inclusivity goals. This could involve regular surveys, feedback sessions, or data analysis to track changes in representation and employee satisfaction. By keeping a close eye on how things are evolving, you can identify areas where your strategies are working and where they might need adjustment. Continuous monitoring also demonstrates your commitment to these values and can inspire ongoing engagement from your network.

6 Adjust Strategy

As with any business strategy, flexibility is key. Based on the monitoring of your progress, make necessary adjustments to your diversity and inclusivity plans. This could mean re-evaluating goals, introducing new initiatives, or addressing unforeseen challenges. It's important to remain open to feedback and willing to make changes in response to what you learn. This iterative process ensures that your transportation network continues to move towards a more diverse and inclusive future.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?