We encourage teams to be explicit and set team norms with inclusion in mind.
Inclusion happens when people feel like they are an insider; they experience a feeling of belonging, yet they are very much themselves and they remain valued.
One of the main ways we build an inclusive environment is by prioritizing trust. If team members can’t speak their mind, inclusion won’t happen. Norms will form whether or not you set them explicitly. We’ve all been on teams where we know who will speak first – and who will speak last, or loudest. The fact we know and expect these behaviors make them a de facto norm. We encourage teams to be explicit and set team norms with inclusion in mind.
Norms can address how the team will encourage input from all, build constructive ideas off of each other, engage in rigorous debate, and make decisions that everyone can support.
Action: Set a time to agree on team norms. You may want help with this, but many teams do it on their own. Suggestion: have someone act as facilitator; writing down ideas individually first, sharing round the table and doing any voting silently as a way to normalize status as you devise norms. Large teams can be split into smaller groups for discussion before final decisions are made.
“Daring leaders are never silent about hard things.” – Brene Brown