Inclusion is a choice

By now, you have likely heard that PRISM International has taken important steps to provide inclusion and diversity leadership in the RIM (records and information management) industry. Specifically, at its December 2014 meeting, the PRISM International board of directors unanimously approved the formation of a task group called the Business Diversity Group (BDG). In addition, the board also committed to long-term development of a diversity initiative in PRISM International, including BDG training at every annual meeting.

One of the results of this BDG initiative was a session at the 2015 PRISM International Annual Conference led by Iron Mountain’s Ty Ondatje. Ondatje described Iron Mountain’s journey and investment in inclusion and diversity. “Most organizations actually lead with diversity. We set our strategy around inclusion or inclusivity,” he explained. “We think that if we can get our people, and our leaders in particular, to create the right climate to embrace, encourage [and] accept inclusion or the value of people’s perspectives and differences, then the organic result will be diversity.”

Ondatje noted several actions that lead to transformational change in the workplace. They include:

• Talking about diversity. “Talk about it openly and raise awareness about what it means to different people.”
• Acting deliberately but objectively. “You have to be mindful not to disenfranchise the white male population that has led to our success. There has to be a proper balance.”
• Encouraging new thinking. “An inclusive environment allows for more choices, different thoughts and perspectives and even opposing views that purposely agitate, challenge and provoke new thinking.”
• Cultivating pride among all employees. “By finding the right talent for the right role, we believe that you’ll have higher levels of engagement, productivity and output.”
• Rising to others’ expectations. “Workplace diversity is becoming a mainstream expectation.”

There are clear opportunities with respect to how we do business and how inclusion and diversity mean more ideas, more innovation and better problem solving. It is equally clear that our members and our industry cannot take advantage of these opportunities if we are unaware of them. Thus, watch for more information around the topics of inclusion and diversity from PRISM International.

To get involved or learn more about this initiative, contact Lori Palmer, BDG chairman, at lpalmer@rebstorage.com.

Dave Bergeson is executive director PRISM International, Chicago, and can be reached at dbergeson@prismintl.org.