
Title: 4 Steps to Turn Inclusion into a Growth Strategy for Nursing
As a healthcare industry leader, it is essential to recognize the importance of creating an inclusive environment where nurses feel valued and empowered. However, many organizations struggle with this concept, as they are more comfortable with the status quo rather than disrupting their comfort zones. It is crucial to understand that inclusivity is not just a moral imperative but also a business necessity.
To achieve this level of inclusion, I propose the following four steps:
1. **Reorganize Your Structure**: To create an inclusive environment, you need to restructure your organization in a way that allows for diverse perspectives and opinions. This means going beyond the traditional hierarchical structure where nurses are confined to their specific roles and responsibilities. By doing so, you will be able to unlock new ideas and innovation.
2. **Break Down Silos**: Healthcare is an industry that thrives on collaboration and communication. However, we often see organizations siloed into different departments or units, which hinders the ability for nurses to share their unique perspectives and experiences. As a leader, it’s essential to break down these silos and create an environment where nurses feel comfortable sharing their views.
3. **Incentivize Inclusion**: Unfortunately, the financial and human capital model in healthcare doesn’t incentivize inclusion. Healthcare leaders need to recognize that creating inclusive environments is not only morally right but also crucial for long-term success. To achieve this, organizations should prioritize diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) as a key performance indicator.
4. **Embrace Discomfort**: Inclusion is not just about being comfortable; it’s about embracing discomfort. As leaders, we need to be willing to disrupt our own comfort zones and allow for diverse perspectives to flourish. By doing so, we can create an environment where nurses feel valued and empowered to make a difference.
In conclusion, turning inclusion into a growth strategy requires disrupting the status quo and recognizing that it’s not just about being comfortable but also about creating an environment where individuals can thrive.
Source: www.forbes.com