The last few years have seen a greater focus on ensuring equality for everyone at work, regardless of their race, gender, or sexuality. The concept of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) has made workplaces more equitable for everyone, and is believed to have brought down discrimination. Additionally, it has given every individual the freedom to live life on their own terms.
Despite these advancements, there are still many myths surrounding DEI, especially when it comes to LGBT workers. To dispel these myths and make the workplace the same for everyone, organisations are increasingly bringing in LGBT speakers. They share personal stories and insightful incidents to improve DEI within the organisation. More importantly, they can connect with the audience to create the necessary impact.
Read on to better understand the role of LGBT speakers in your DEI strategies.
Going Beyond Pride Month
For many companies, LGBTQ+ initiatives revolve only around Pride month. While this is a good step to create awareness on this issue, the impact will be short-term. To make it more lasting, leaders must invite LGBT motivational speakers throughout the year. It’s even a good idea to invite these LGBT speakers once every few months to keep reminding everyone of the culture and values of your organisation.
Why LGBT Speakers Matter in the Corporate World
One of the primary reasons to hire LGBT speakers for businesses is that they know how to drive awareness about this not-so-openly discussed topic. Sexuality is a personal topic for most people, so creating a discussion around its variations is not easy or comfortable for many business leaders. This is where LGBT speakers step in, as they know how to get people involved in this conversation without making it sound awkward.
Specifically, the impact of these speakers will be visible in the following areas.
Representation
When employees see an LGBT speaker taking the centre stage or even being invited as an expert, it sends a powerful message that the company is serious about implementing DEI. It goes to show that the leaders value identity. Such representation builds trust and gives professionals the confidence to be themselves at work, all of which can lead to greater loyalty and better productivity.
Role Modeling
LGBT speakers are often leaders in their own right. They can be entrepreneurs, executives, artists, activists, and from any other walk of life. The success of these individuals and their stories helps employees understand that success is not limited to any stereotypical personality or gender, but rather comes from hard work and resilience. In this sense, these speakers demonstrate the power of living an authentic life, and this role modelling can resonate with employees.
Authenticity
What makes these speakers good role models is their authenticity. They are vocal about their beliefs, and this honesty can help those struggling with their own identities to embrace them and be open about their sexuality. By sharing authentic stories, LGBT motivational speakers create an opportunity for everyone to reflect on themselves and their behaviour towards others who are different from them. Such conversations create a chain of openness and encourage people to let others live on their own terms, without discriminating against individuals based on their beliefs and gender.
Psychological Safety
A workplace that supports inclusion is more than just diverse; it’s also safer for everyone. LGBT speakers can build this safety net for every employee by showing leaders what policies to create and how to implement them. They also demonstrate to employees the need to be open and accepting of others by following simple everyday practices. These hands-on tips and insights can create a safer workplace for everyone.
Corporate Culture
Employees are the heart of corporate culture, and when they start believing in DEI, there is no doubt that the corporate culture will also become more open and inclusive. Creating such workplaces goes beyond the HR function and must gain traction from everyone, starting from those at the top. Sessions from these speakers can impact hiring practices, internal communications, mentorship programs, and more. As culture is reflected in actions, it won’t be long before the company becomes a leader in DEI, which in turn, can bring about many positive benefits for the business.
Continuous Inclusion
Just like any initiative, LGBT conversations must also be continuous. It cannot be a one-and-done event, as its impact will be limited to a few days or weeks at best. When you invite LGBT speakers for businesses at regular intervals, they can help employees stay current on the DEI trends, and more importantly, it will keep the conversations around equality going. Eventually, these conversations will lead to inclusive hiring and retention, thereby enabling the company to leverage top talent.
Meeting Compliance Requirements
Lastly, conversations around DEI and LGBTQ+ are essential for compliance, especially for government, financial, and healthcare organisations. Beyond just ticking boxes, these speakers can offer authenticity and practical strategies for long-term DEI initiatives, all of which can ensure continuous compliance with regulatory requirements.
As you can see, LGBT speakers can have a profound impact on your organisation across multiple areas. However, the key is to find a speaker who can connect with your employees. This is where it helps to work with a reputable speaking agency that can connect you to individuals from all walks of life, and leverage the inspiring speeches of LGBT speakers UK.
Final Thoughts
To conclude, LGBT speakers ensure that inclusion is not a one-day or Pride month strategy. Rather, it is a continuous part of your operations, which can create a safe and trustworthy environment for your employees. Eventually, these initiatives foster trust and loyalty, enabling you to hire and retain talented individuals for extended periods. DEI can also boost productivity and make your operations more effective.
Read more:
The Role of LGBT Speakers in Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Strategies