How to Measure Inclusion?

A strategic approach to diversity and inclusion starts with reflecting on your current state. Assessing where your organization is on the diversity and inclusion journey is a key intervention. Well-chosen metrics can focus organizational attention and efforts and lead to progress.  

Step 1 

Connecting inclusion to your organizational goals: The first step in creating your measurement process is considering the big picture. What are the strategic goals or key deliverables for your team, department or organization? 

Identifying these will help you determine why being inclusive is important to your team, department or organization and how it can affect these important goals. This is useful for generating buy-in at different levels and connecting diversity and inclusion to your everyday work. Download the Strategic Goals and Key Deliverables Rubric and complete the exercise.

Step 2 

Work with the data you have now: You may already be collecting data that you could use to understand diversity and inclusion in your workplace. The Inclusion Measurement Blueprint can help you leverage what you have and identify your measurement gaps. 

Measurement is the first step toward taking action toward building inclusion. It will give you the evidence you need to make more strategic and informed decisions. 

There are three types of inclusive workplaces indicators: 

• Workplace diversity – the demographics of your organization

• Sense of inclusion – the degree to which people feel that they belong and that their ideas and contributions are valued

• Inclusive behaviours – the degree to which people behave in an inclusive way

Indicators are the evidence you will gather to show the level of inclusion in your workplace. They should show you where you are now and how you will know that you are making progress in future. 

Step 3 

Review your current practices: You can use the Inclusive Practices Index to assess your organizational practices in six key areas that impact inclusion. Download the Inclusive Practices Index document and start your review.