Did you know that 61% of U.S. employees experienced or witnessed discrimination based on age, gender, race, or LGBTQ status in the workplace?
Since the Black Lives Matter
movement protests of 2020, the need for diversity in the workplace has
continued to grow exponentially. And the best way to address
diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) is to hire a diversity consultant.
Diversity consultants specialize in
assessing workplaces and offering recommendations on how to reach DEI
goals. But it can be hard to determine which DEI consultant is the best
fit for your company.
If you're interested in learning
diversity consultant hiring tips, then keep reading!
Consider
Your DEI Plan
Before hiring a diversity
consultant, you must examine your company's DEI strategy. A consultant is only
a part of the plan you must establish.
Your plan allows your company to
shift to a more diverse climate.
If you need help with your plan, make sure that your diversity consultant has
the expertise needed to help. This includes the ability to do cultural climate
adits, for example.
The best diversity consultant will
create a clear picture of your company and note what you're already doing
successfully before helping with what is missing. To determine if someone
has the expertise needed, a mix of academic knowledge and real-life experience
is what you should look for.
Your diversity consultant should be
able to understand a loaded and challenging subject like DEI and teach it in an
engaging manner.
Consultants
Must be Solution-Oriented
A large part of being a diversity
consultant is searching for solutions. Finding problems is the easy part, but
creating effective solutions is where the best are sorted out from the worst in
the field.
Diversity consultants should
understand how to survey the workplace and communicate solutions. This involves
implementing the proper framework so that your company is successful.
Your diversity consultant hire
should also know the theoretical background behind DEI. Analyzing data from
surveys and observation is the main part of the job. From that analysis, a
diversity consultant must then conclude with their solutions.
DEI workshops are a great way to
learn solutions to implement within your company. And during the interview
process, you can ask if any of your applicants have taken DEI workshops in the
past. View these DEI workshops for more information on how they can help involve diversity
in the workplace.
Working
With a Future Partner
While ensuring that applicants have
had the necessary education and experience in DEI, you must keep in mind that
your diversity consultant hire will be your partner. The best diversity
consultant will approach their job as a partnership with you and your company.
This means that you must hire
someone you get along with. If things do not "click" between the two
of you, there can be more harm than good done within your
company.
Hiring
Diversity Consultants
Diversity is an important pillar
within our society, which means that our businesses should also live up to it.
Diversity, equity, and inclusion ensure that each employee in your company has
an equal opportunity to progress.
Diversity consultants are a great
help in creating a positive change in the workplace because of their input
and assessment.
Did you find this article helpful? If so, make sure to read more from us.
