Inclusify

The Power of Uniqueness and Belonging to Build Innovative Teams

By: Stefanie K. Johnson

Narrated by: Amanda Dolan

In this groundbreaking guide, a management expert outlines the transformative leadership skill of tomorrow—one that can make it possible to build truly diverse and inclusive teams which value employees’ need to belong while being themselves.

Humans have two basic desires: to stand out and to fit in. Companies respond by creating groups that tend to the extreme—where everyone fits in and no one stands out, or where everyone stands out and no one fits in. How do we find that happy medium where workers can demonstrate their individuality while also feeling they belong?

The answer, according to Stefanie Johnson, is to Inclusify. In this essential handbook, she explains what it means to Inclusify and how it can be used to strengthen any business. Inclusifying—unlike “diversifying” or “including”— implies a continuous, sustained effort towards helping diverse teams feel engaged, empowered, accepted, and valued. It’s no use having diversity if everyone feels like an outsider, she contends.

In her research, Johnson found common problems leaders exhibit which frustrate their attempts to create diverse and cohesive teams. Leaders that underestimated the importance of group coherence and dynamics often have employees who do not feel like they belong; leaders that ignore the benefits of listening to different perspectives leave some people feeling like they cannot be their authentic selves.

By contrast, leaders who Inclusify can forge strong relationships with their teams, inspire greater productivity from all of their workers, and create a more positive environment for everyone. Having a true range of different voices is good for the bottom line—it allows for the development of the best, most innovative, and creative solutions that are essential to success.

Inclusify reveals the unexpected ways that well-intentioned leaders undermine their teams, explains how to recognize the myths and misperceptions that drive these behaviors, and provides practical strategies to become an Inclusifyer. By learning why uniqueness and belonging are so imperative, leaders can better understand what makes their employees tick and find ways to encourage them to be themselves while ensuring they feel like they are fully part of the group. The result is a fully engaged team filled with diverse perspectives—the key to creating innovative and imaginative ideas that drive value.

Essential for all

Dr. Johnson shares her incredibly impactful research in a book that everyone should read. I love it and will take the learnings from it to my work and life.

elevated my perspective

this book introduced me to both old and new concepts that caused me to reflect on my own behavior and actions taken through out my career and life. I recommend this for anyone , regardless of race gender and religion and ethnic background.

A must listen to

Amanda Dolan is an outstanding narrator and Stephanie K. Johnson is an excellent author although chapter 9 came out preachy.

Not for me

The book was very informative and gave me incites that made understand business more but wasn’t for me.

Outdated paradigms and novice leadership perspectives

This book is probably best suited for a young leader. Seasoned leaders will likely experience very few useful new point of view.