Inclusion on the Slopes

From the desk of Dr. Gerilyn Davis: Happy Wednesday! I hope that you are feeling in harmony with the week. Recently, I spoke with a leader about preparing for the next generation. I emphasized the need to get to know the next generation and realize what they value and why. Here are a few factors to consider. --- GENERATIONAL SHIFTS: The next generation has had more exposure to various lived experiences than previous generations.   --- WORK-LIFE HARMONY: Our life and our work-life are interconnected more now than ever. It's important to acknowledge this interconnectivity. --- VALUES ALIGNMENT: We are willing to uncover where we align our values and leverage them for continued engagement. We are now on the brink of having more generations in the workforce than ever. We will all be learning to connect in ways we have not before. I say let the adventure begin! Enjoy the day! #joyofinclusion #inclusionexpansion #inclusionincludesyoutoo #InclusionontheSlopes #SWORDInclusionSystem #PhaseThreeOpportunityPlanning

From the desk of Dr. Gerilyn Davis: Happy Tuesday! I hope you are feeling refreshed after your holiday. What I find most refreshing is my interaction with people. I love people. I learn something from every person that I encounter. My connection to others is truly a gift. I also love what we can accomplish together. Here are some examples as to why inclusion matters. --- FINANCIAL TARGETS: According to Gartner, inclusive organizations are 120% more likely to achieve their financial targets.   --- RETAIN EMPLOYEES: If we can achieve our financial targets, we can leverage transferable skills to navigate our rapidly changing culture climates.  --- EXPAND VS. CONTRACT: According to Harvard Business Review, we are 70% more likely to capture a new market. Inclusion is a process. In many cases, it's not what we are doing but more so how we do it. Knowing our why helps us get creative! It can be pretty thrilling. Enjoy your day! #joyofinclusion #inclusionexpansion #inclusionincludesyoutoo #InclusionontheSlopes #SWORDInclusionSystem #PhaseTwoWhy 

From the desk of Dr. Gerilyn Davis: Happy Monday! I hope you are enjoying your holiday. I enjoy connecting with people through more inclusion. According to the US Census, there is no majority race under 18 years old, and mixed races are the second largest demographic. Inclusion is happening, whether we are prepared for it or not. Here is how strengths can assist us. --- PEOPLE ARE A PRIORITY: We can do anything through our relationships with people. We have unique lived experiences for a reason. --- PEOPLE ARE FOUNDATIONAL: We better understand the people we are connecting with which can lessen conflict and maximize progress. --- PEOPLE ACHIEVE MORE: We achieve more together than we can alone. Thus, creating space for the next generation is essential to achieve more. Inclusion is a must. There is no way around it. We can resist it. Nevertheless, what we resist persists. Connection is what we are here to do! Enjoy the holiday! #joyofinclusion #inclusionexpansin #inclusionincludesyoutoo #InclusionontheSlopes #SWORDInclusionSystem #PhaseOneStrength

From the desk of Dr. Gerilyn Davis: Happy Friday! I wish you nothing but the best as we wrap up the month of August. It is one of my favorites for it is a time of transition. In Phase Five: Daily Assessment of the SWORD Inclusion System, we transition from the intangible to tangible outcomes. We increase performance, talent acquisition efforts, and measurables. Here are some of the outcomes. --- OPEN DIALOGUE: We become more proactive with inclusive developmental practices that create a new relationship with the organizational workload. --- NEEDS GET MET: Instead of being unclear about what employees or leaders need to thrive. We are transparent and start addressing those needs on an ongoing basis. --- GRADUAL IMPROVEMENT: We notice gradual improvements as we provide immediate feedback on the results we are achieving. When we start with inclusion, it becomes apparent that it sets the foundation to drive results. The inclusive process begins to speak for itself. I find it truly remarkable. Enjoy the weekend! #joyofinclusion #inclusionexpansion #inclusionincludesyoutoo #InclusionontheSlopes #SWORDInclusionSystem #PhaseFiveDailyAssessment

From the desk of Dr. Gerilyn Davis: Happy Thursday! I hope your week is serving you well. There's nothing like feeling confident in rising to see another day. In Phase Four: Review Weekly of the SWORD Inclusion System, we begin to experience how inclusion assists us in rising to the next level of our development. Here is how we make it applicable to our day-to-day. --- PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS EXPAND: As we apply the tools from SWORD, we begin to experience more depth in our relationships. --- APPARENT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT: We witness how our workload seems lighter. We develop our capacity to do more by minimizing some of the stress by being more inclusive. --- ORGANIZATIONAL SHIFTS: Because of the vested interest in inclusivity, individuals, teams, and organizations develop more rapidly. Inclusion is ultimately about expanding our capability, capacity, and commitment to rise to the next level. By making this an intentional effort, inclusion becomes invigorating. It can be indescribable at times. Enjoy the day! #joyofinclusion #inclusionexpansion #inclusionincludesyoutoo #InclusionontheSlopes #SWORDInclusionSystem #PhaseFourReviewWeekly

From the desk of Dr. Gerilyn Davis: Happy Wednesday! I hope you are building momentum for an amazing week. With inclusion, we can build momentum for our success. In Phase Three: Opportunity Planning of the SWORD Inclusion System, we recognize that we start from somewhere. The key is to be exploratory. What may have worked before may not work now. We keep inclusion top of mind to build momentum for new solutions. Here are some examples. --- IDEAS FLOW: We build momentum when ideas begin to flow and tap into our ability to be creative. --- SOLUTIONS OCCUR: Solutions begin to unfold as we continue to connect. We recognize that we can uncover them together. --- INCLUSION SYSTEMS DEVELOP: We co-create a system of inclusion as we orchestrate continuing to include others and build on each other's ideas. We organically develop inclusion systems because we place our attention on being inclusive. We begin to question how we functioned any other way. I know I do! Enjoy the day! #joyofinclusion #inclusionexpansion #inclusionincludesyoutoo #InclusionontheSlopes #SWORDInclusionSystem #PhaseThreeOpportunityPlanning

From the desk of Dr. Gerilyn Davis: Happy Tuesday!! I hope you are feeling valued and appreciated. One of the reasons why inclusion is so meaningful is because we can leverage each other's unique abilities. In Phase Two: Why of the SWORD Inclusion System, we experience why inclusion is a necessity for our ability to expand our capabilities, capacity, and commitment. Here are some examples of why inclusion matters. --- COLLECTIVE ENGAGEMENT: We engage because we recognize that we were not supposed to go at it alone. --- COLLECTIVE EXPANSION: We notice how we begin to expand based on the relationships that we develop. --- COLLECTIVE RESULTS: We make a point to contribute towards results in which we all feel purposeful. Inclusion as a foundation can be transformative. I have seen individuals and organizations experience it time and time again. It never gets old. It is my 'why' all day long.    Enjoy the day! #joyofinclusion #inclusionexpansion #inclusionincludesyoutoo #InclusionontheSlopes #SWORDInclusionSystem #PhaseTwoWhy

From the desk of Dr. Gerilyn Davis: Happy Monday!! I hope you are feeling rejuvenated from the weekend. There’s nothing like a much-needed reprieve from a workweek. In Phase One: Strengths of the SWORD Inclusion System, we revisit our strengths to recharge. It answers the “How to create inclusion” and ignites our learning capabilities. Here are a few examples of how. --- DEVELOP COMPETENCIES: When we know our strengths, we can develop the mindset to stay dedicated and engaged. --- DEVELOP FUNDAMENTALS: Our strengths lay the foundation for how we function in the world and give us our fundamentals. It's how we learn to be more inclusive. --- DEVELOP RESILIENCE: We develop our resilience by experiencing the value of inclusion. With strength-based inclusion, we begin to value people for who they are, not who we would want them to be. We know that we are all a work in progress. It’s humanity at its finest. Enjoy the day!  #joyofinclusion #inclusionexpansion #inclusionincludesyoutoo #InclusionontheSlopes #SWORDInclusionSystem #PhaseOneStrength

From the desk of Dr. Gerilyn Davis: Happy Friday!! Congratulations! You have made it through another week. I hope you are feeling renewed heading into the weekend. In Phase Five: Daily Assessment of the SWORD Inclusion System, we update our point of reference to allow inclusion to renew us. Here are a few examples of the renewal. --- UPDATE OUR SOFT SKILLS: As long as we breathe, we can find renewal in updating our beliefs and engagement with others. --- UPDATE TRACKING: We start tracking our interactions with others and recognize that our interactions are ever-evolving. --- UPDATE OUR OUTCOMES: We build inclusivity based on the information obtained from each step. The process begins to be the goal. By ensuring that we take it day by day, inclusion becomes manageable. We witness the continuous cultural shifts. We live inclusive lives versus doing inclusive work! The joy in the journey becomes apparent. Enjoy the weekend! #joyofinclusion #inclusionexpansion #inclusionincludesyoutoo #InclusionontheSlopes #SWORDInclusionSystem #PhaseFiveDailyAssessment 

From the desk of Dr. Gerilyn Davis: Happy Thursday!! I hope you are feeling empowered. It is interesting how empowerment can derive from our ability to feel adaptable. A colleague asked me what is the one thing Dr. Gee was working on. I replied continuing to adapt. Inclusion keeps us on our toes because we are always learning how to adapt to one another. Here are a few examples of what that looks like. --- FLEXIBLE COMMUNICATION STYLES: We each give or receive communication differently. Hence, we may have to adapt our communication style. --- FLEXIBLE EXPERIENCES: What may be stressful for one person may be exciting to another. We honor our unique experiences. --- FLEXIBLE EXPECTATIONS: Some have an either-or mentality. Inclusion is an option for both if we are creative. In Phase Four: Review Weekly of the SWORD Inclusion System, we notice that inclusion is a win/win. If not, then it is not inclusion. Enjoy the day! #joyofinclusion #inclusionexpansion #inclusionincludesyoutoo #InclusionontheSlopes #SWORDInclusionSystem #PhaseFourReviewWeekly