Variety or focus – how to market DEI?
Celebrating differences is common if not paramount on DiversityDay. However, when many different (interest) groups campaign separately, what is the common message? And who will receive it positively as an inspiration for change?
Hundreds of initiatives, many with their individual claims and each with their distinct demand, message or theme: In 2024 various diversity days during #EUDiversityMonth are telling a broader and more colourful story than ever before. While DEI practitioners may well get enthusiastic about such festive celebrations we should also ask:
- Which image or perception do many different claims create?
- What is the common ground of European DEI initiatives?
- Is there a cannibalising effect of stories competing for publicity?
And maybe most importantly:
- Which are the key audiences that DEI should reach – and does that actually happen today?
Abundance of topics, stories and cases
Providing visibility for previously ignored aspects is a fundamental mechanism for D, E and I. Hence a growing number of groups, platforms, certificates and tools has emerged and this is reflected, e.g., by the great variety of activities during #EUDiversityMonth. Insiders of the DEI communities keep being fascinated and inspired, but what about outsiders – those who should be the primary audience?
Frequent and increasing feedback tells us that many people are overwhelmed with both the amount and calibre of messages, and some also struggle with occurrence or demands. What does this tell us?
- Are we getting it right because we wanted to provoke in an activist way, and we know ‘they’ must feel the pain in the first place?
- Should we tone it down to be(come) more digestible and start with low key images and messages to start with?
While both appear too simplistic the two represent approaches that are not uncommon – and also competing. Our Engineering D&I way aims at combining the best of both worlds.
Integration around organisational identity
Especially in work organisations we want to start to work from what brings and holds the system together: the shared purpose, values and mission. Understanding the focus guides us to the common aspects that can then be turned into the foundation that carries diversity and ensures equity and inclusion going forward. What sounds simple and obvious is still considered strange and sometimes inappropriate by traditional DEI activists. For they rely on their special interest cases also as their raison d’être.
This takes us back to DiversityDay, week or month: To what extent are activities and related structures self-sustaining with an interest to create new cases for action, and eventually compete against other constituencies? In a few previous analyses, I have discussed the questions of
- D&I activities versus the impact they create
- Critical or accusing activism versus constructive organisational change
and in a brand-new appearance in a podcast produced at a university in the U.S.A., I provide detail regarding polarisation and what needs to happen to re-unite audiences behind a shared agenda to make organisations – and eventually societies – resilient for future challenges. In order to watch it, please visit the community section of our YouTube channel
https://www.youtube.com/@europeandiversity1397/community
The Future of DEI and DiversityDays
Helping people (that means everyone) to see themselves as part of DE&I may be the most critical success factor in the near future. For polarisation and backlash have been threatening identities and meritocracies in recent years, and integration must be a priority.
Creating consistent approaches to DE&I for each (organisational, regional or maturity) context is the second big critical task that experts must accomplish in order to regain relevance and traction.
In both respects, Engineering D&I is a leading player and we invite you to visit our website in addition to this D&I KnowledgeBlog
This article was published on the occassion of
#EUDiversityMonth #UnitedInDiversity #DiversityCharters #UnionOfEquality #DDT24 #StimmeFürVielfalt
