Why a DEI Systems Audit is More than Just a Checkmark
When you champion diversity, equity, and inclusivity (DEI) in your organization, you're not just ticking a corporate responsibility box – you're unleashing innovation, elevating employee satisfaction, and cranking up overall performance. By booting bias out of your systems, you ensure everyone has an equal shot and feels heard and valued, paving the way for an org ready to conquer any challenge.
Let’s look at why a DEI systems audit is a powerful tool for boosting inclusion in the workplace and how it drives organizational success.
What is a DEI audit?
So, what’s a DEI systems audit all about? It takes a good look under the hood of your org, examining the people, culture, systems, and challenges. Basically, it’s a diagnostic process blending data, surveys, and assessments to reveal what's running smoothly and what needs a bit of fine-tuning.
Why are DEI systems audits essential for success?
Just like a thorough inspection keeps your ride purring, an equity audit ensures your company fires on all cylinders by prioritizing crucial DEI efforts. The research is clear – a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace is a differentiator that elevates employee engagement, increases productivity, and enhances innovation.
Check out these DEI benefits:
Performance boost: Diverse and inclusive workforces make companies 35% more likely to outperform their competitors. (McKinsey)
Turnover tamer: Policies focusing on diversity and inclusion lead to a 20% increase in employees planning to stick around. (Catalyst)
Talent magnet: More than 3 out of 4 job seekers and employees (76%) say diversity is a deal-breaker when choosing where to work. (Glassdoor)
Moreover, a DEI systems audit goes beyond a mere inspection. It’s a tool for community-building, helping everyone speak the same language, and it guides where to put resources for the most impact. Plus, it gives you clear metrics for tracking progress. That’s some serious fuel for organizational success!
How do you conduct a DEI audit?
Curious about the nuts and bolts of what is included in a diversity audit? Follow our roadmap to DEI success:
1. Identify your focus areas.
We took a close look at our clients at LifeLabs Learning to figure out what really works for a company's DEI efforts. Based extensive experience, we've identified five key systems to evaluate as your first step:
Recruiting and hiring – Are your hiring practices unbiased, ensuring a diverse candidate pool?
Benefits and work conditions – Are your systems inclusive, providing an equal playing field for everyone on your team?
Assessment and promotion – Are your processes fair, recognizing talent regardless of background or identity?
Meetings and social connection – Are you fostering inclusion and collaboration in these spaces?
Learning and growth – Are your learning experiences accessible to all, propelling your team toward continuous development?
TOP TOOL: Use our DEI systems audit tool to guide you through these checkpoints and jumpstart your journey.
2. Establish a DEI council.
Rev up your equity audit by forming a dedicated DEI council to drive the process. It’s not just symbolic – it's a catalyst for meaningful change, bringing diverse voices into decision-making and steering your organization toward inclusivity.
3. Use the FAIR framework.
Keeping DEI at the forefront can be a challenge in a growing company. Hand your managers the keys to inclusion with the FAIR Framework – an essential tool to weave DEI seamlessly into decision-making.
Learn more about using the FAIR framework in our Inclusive Systems Skills workshop!
4. Implement the 3 Lenses of DEI work.
We’ve found inclusive companies create systems in three important areas: institutional, interpersonal, and individual. Ignite your DEI systems audit with the power of the 3 Lenses approach – the secret to a lasting, diverse, and inclusive culture.
TOP TOOL: Download our free DEI Playbook for a deeper look at using the 3 Lenses approach for DEI work.
What comes after an equity audit?
Establishing equitable policies and practices is a great start, but how your people interact also shapes important cultural elements, like how folks feel, engage, perform, collaborate, and succeed as a team. Equip all your employees with skills for a diverse, inclusive, and equitable workplace.
Train your team.
Ensure inclusion is a shared commitment among employees with data-driven DEI training. The most inclusive companies have:
Conversational capacity – Employees are empowered to discuss inclusion, identity, and bias.
Shared ownership – Inclusion is co-owned by all employees – not just one role or leader.
Next step: Invest in employee training for greater collaboration, innovation, productivity, and problem-solving capacity. For example, LifeLabs’s Inclusive Cultures Program includes workshops like Behaviors of Inclusion, Inclusive Interviewing, and Inclusive Systems Skills.
Success Story: Building Inclusive Norms at Column Five
Column Five worked with LifeLabs Learning to breathe life into its DEI vision. Through DEI training, the company equipped employees at every level with instantly useful behaviors, both transforming individuals and enhancing hiring and onboarding practices. The outcomes spoke volumes with established company-wide norms and increased applicant diversity. Notably, Column Five saw a remarkable 40% increase in women applying for jobs!
Create a DEI curriculum for leaders.
Give your leaders the tools to champion inclusivity and lead by example. Turn leaders into advocates for a workplace where everyone feels seen, heard, and valued.
Next step: Create a targeted curriculum for managers (like this one) to provide leaders with ongoing learning and deepen their grasp of equity, inclusion, and bias.
Success Story: Transformative Manager Training at Vox
Vox worked with LifeLabs to create an inclusive culture through comprehensive manager training. The company equipped its managers with the skills to mitigate bias in feedback and collaborate effectively with diverse work styles. This approach had a ripple effect, creating a widespread impact across the entire organization. The training has become a catalyst for organizational change, where every manager becomes a driver of DEI impact at Vox.
Are you in need of a DEI systems audit? Contact us to learn more about our DEI program.
Download our DEI Audit Tool & DEI Playbook!
