With the upcoming WCUS 2023, I still am on a high from my chance to speak at WCUS 2022. That moment has given me so much exposure to speak about more topics (primarily to my audience) about what’s going on in the world of WordPress, Digital Marketing, and Technology. Knowing me, I would still have tried to pursue the speaking opportunities I’ve been getting, but I don’t know how much of it would have been offered or accepted without the WordCamp opportunity.
This poses a question: Why are there not more diverse speakers, influencers, and faces of authority in the WordPress community? I mean, you did know that one of the cofounders of WordPress is a minority (Hey Mike)?
Having inclusive leadership provides a better representation of the world today. It also helps give the community a wider/broader decision library to create solutions. The leadership representation of the community is not as culturally diverse as those who contribute to or serve the community. Does that truly look like an inclusive environment? Instead of giving gripes about how it affects everyone, I’d rather pose some helpful solutions.
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The Importance of Inclusive Leadership
Inclusive leadership is advantageous in getting as many diverse points of view with relevant experiences to drive innovation, solve problems, and create visionaries for the future. This is important because of a couple of reasons. One, you foster more ingenuity. You are dooming your organization’s future if multiple leaders – i.e., an Executive Board – share common experiences. The reason because the leadership cannot “see past its nose.” They will solve every problem with the same set of experiences and, possibly, the same set of solutions because everyone has experienced the problems at the same pace, level, or with the same effect. How well can an organization thrive if the Executive Leadership doesn’t have diverse experiences? It won’t last for long. Since the world doesn’t operate in a vacuum, your leadership shouldn’t be making decisions similarly.
Developing Inclusive Leadership Qualities
Inclusive leadership qualities can cover a lot, but the culture is always influenced at the top. To develop more diverse leaders, your leadership needs to be diverse. When the top becomes diverse, you create an environment to cultivate more diverse leaders. Having this culture can improve identifying key qualities and competencies of other inclusive leaders, such as empathy for others who might share similar experiences or provide a wide range of insight.
Caring about others’ feelings and being open-minded about different cultures helps make intelligent decisions. You stifle growth if you have a culture without varying degrees of experience. And don’t forget inclusive leadership skills. It’s essential to create an environment where everyone feels valued and included. This means embracing diversity, actively listening to different perspectives, and fostering collaboration. Leaders can develop these skills by seeking feedback, promoting open communication, and providing equal opportunities for growth and development.
Diverse Leaders Create Diverse Leaders
Nurturing inclusive leadership is crucial in cultivating a diverse leadership pipeline. Like many others, the WordPress community needs a broader range of voices and perspectives to drive innovation and solve complex problems effectively. Culturally diverse leadership can offer a more comprehensive decision-making process, considering varied experiences and insights. By developing inclusive leadership qualities and embracing diversity, organizations can foster an environment where everyone feels valued and included. This empowers individuals and strengthens the community, ensuring a vibrant and sustainable future for WordPress and beyond.
Let’s work together to create a more inclusive and impactful world.
