The ubiquitous sticky note can help us better understand and enact the inclusion part of our diversity and inclusion initiatives. Let’s use some simple approaches and common sense to get beyond the mandatory 20 minute video training used to protect organizations from liability associated with bad behavior.

Let’s start with a working understanding of what diversity and inclusion really means. Diversity is about ensuring that we have team members with complementary, not identical, backgrounds, experiences, mindsets, and capabilities on our teams. Inclusion means that each member of a diverse team will have an opportunity to be heard and contribute to the team. ‘

Consider a meeting to discuss a proposed initiative to improve the sharing of best practices across functions and divisions. The leader asks for ideas about how the initiative might be structured. An American team member begins speaking at length. Team members who speak English as a second or third language appear interested but do not contribute ideas. Those who are more introverted than extroverted withhold comments as well.   Frustrated by the lack of contributions, the leader shares her own ideas about the initiative. Game over.   The team is completely silent at this point.

Sticky Notes to the Rescue

To ensure inclusion,  imagine that the leader in the above example asks each team member to write on sticky notes numerous brief and separate ideas about what must be done to achieve success in the initiative. After several minutes of silent and individual writing, the leader asks the associates  to stick their ideas to the wall and, as they are doing so, group the ideas according to similarity, or affinity clusters. Then the leader facilitates a discussion about the ideas and asks each associate to contribute his or her thoughts about the sticky note ideas and how they clustered.

You might be thinking at this point that this is just a common brainstorming technique. If so, you are correct. There’s nothing really new about it. In fact, I’m becoming increasingly convinced that there are very few universal leadership approaches that become packaged and repackaged to the point of distraction.   We add to the distraction by sending out quarterly email newsletters about our progress in embracing diversity and inclusion. Why not just keep it simple? Sticky notes might just be the most powerful tool for ensuring that those on a team have an opportunity to work together as a team.