Hiring more staff from different backgrounds and identities is not a bad thing. The danger comes from hiring diverse staff members and failing to create an inclusive environment where BIPOC staff feel safe enough to bring their full selves to work. Without a workplace focused on equity and inclusion, the benefits of diverse perspectives that staff bring will never be realized. So how can an organization identify if it’s falling into the trap of superficial diversity hiring?

An EDI strategic plan should involve a roadmap with a clear set of steps and the expected outcomes or required changes that will ultimately lead to the desired goal. While this may sound intimidating, the tools to do so are probably more familiar than you think.