How to Promote Diversity in the Workplace: A Practical Guide for Mid-Sized Organizations

What does a truly diverse and inclusive workplace look like in your organization?

Promoting diversity in the workplace is not just the right thing to do - it’s a smart move for your business. 

When you embrace diversity, you unlock the potential for innovation, better decision-making, and higher employee satisfaction. As a mid-sized organization, fostering diversity can help you stay compliant, retain top talent, and build a stronger team.

But, how do you create a workplace where everyone feels valued and empowered?

Let’s explore how you can take meaningful steps to promote diversity and inclusion in your organization.

Why diversity matters in the workplace

Think about your team. 

When your workforce brings together different perspectives, skills, and experiences, you get a broader range of ideas and solutions. Diversity goes beyond race and gender - it includes cultural backgrounds, education, and ways of thinking. 

By focusing on diversity, you can:

• Make better decisions - Teams with diverse viewpoints are more likely to solve problems effectively.
• Retain your employees- An inclusive workplace keeps employees happy and reduces turnover.
• Drive innovation- Fresh perspectives spark creativity and new ideas.
• Stay compliant- In regulated industries, diversity and inclusion are often part of meeting compliance training standards.

The bottom line? 

Diversity isn’t just good for your people - it’s good for business.

Steps you can take to promote diversity in the workplace

1. Start with an honest assessment

Take a step back and evaluate where your company stands when it comes to diversity. 

What’s working? Where are the gaps? 

Understanding your current state is the first step toward meaningful change.

What you can do:

• Run employee surveys to gather feedback on inclusivity.
• Look at your hiring and promotion data to identify any patterns or disparities.
• Compare your workforce demographics to your industry benchmarks.

When you know where you are, it’s easier to map out where you want to go.

2. Set clear goals and a plan

Once you have a clear picture, set specific, measurable goals. 

What do you want to achieve? 

Whether it’s increasing diversity in leadership roles or improving inclusivity in everyday interactions, having a strategy will keep you focused.

How to approach it:

• Identify areas where diversity can improve, like hiring, promotions, or team culture.
• Set targets for recruiting underrepresented groups.
• Track your progress and hold yourself accountable.

Your goals should align with your company’s broader mission and values.

3. Make your hiring process inclusive

To build a more diverse workforce, start with how you recruit. 

Your hiring process should show candidates that you’re serious about inclusivity and creating equal opportunities for everyone.

Here’s how:

• Write job descriptions with gender-neutral and inclusive language.
• Partner with organizations that can help you reach diverse talent pools.
• Train your hiring managers to spot and avoid unconscious bias during interviews.

Remember, an inclusive hiring process helps you find the best talent - period.

4. Build an inclusive company culture

Diversity alone isn’t enough. 

To truly make an impact, you need to create a culture where every employee feels valued and supported. Inclusion means everyone has a seat at the table - and their voice is heard.

What you can do:

• Celebrate cultural milestones and events in the workplace.
• Create Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) to support underrepresented employees.
• Encourage open conversations about diversity and inclusion in team meetings.

When your employees feel like they belong, they’re more likely to bring their best to work every day.

5. Provide diversity training and development

Education is key to building awareness and fostering change. 

When you invest in diversity training, you’re giving your employees the tools to understand, appreciate, and leverage differences.

How technology can help you:

• Use ready-made diversity training courses to cover topics like unconscious bias and cultural competence.
• Include gamification and interactive modules to make learning engaging.
• Automate training reminders and track completion to make sure no one misses out (as shown below):

The right training helps create a workplace where diversity and inclusion are part of your everyday culture.

6. Use technology to simplify diversity initiatives

Managing diversity initiatives can feel overwhelming, but the right tools can make it easier. 

Learning platforms like XtraMile help you centralize training, track progress, and ensure every employee gets the support they need.

Why it works:

• AI-powered tools can create custom courses tailored to your industry.
• Gamification features like badges and leaderboards keep employees engaged.
• Analytics let you see what’s working and where you can improve.

Technology makes scaling your diversity efforts manageable, even for mid-sized organizations with limited resources.

7. Recognize and reward inclusive behavior

Don’t underestimate the power of recognition. 

When you celebrate employees who promote inclusivity, you reinforce the importance of diversity and inspire others to do the same.

Ways to show appreciation:

• Give shout-outs during team meetings to employees who lead diversity initiatives.
• Create awards or incentives for teams that demonstrate inclusivity.
• Highlight success stories in your internal communications.

Recognition goes a long way in motivating employees and strengthening your culture.

8. Evaluate and adjust regularly

Promoting diversity is an ongoing effort. 

Regularly evaluate the impact of your initiatives and use feedback to make improvements.

How to stay on track:

• Use analytics to measure diversity training completion and engagement.
• Adjust your strategies as your company and workforce evolve.
• Gather employee feedback through surveys and focus groups (example below):

Continuous improvement is key to making diversity a lasting part of your workplace.

The role of technology in driving change

Many companies struggle to implement effective diversity programs because they lack the tools to track and scale their efforts. That’s where a platform like XtraMile makes a difference. 

By automating training, tracking progress in real time, and offering ready-made courses, you can create a program that’s impactful and sustainable - just like Kreftforeningen did.

Imagine how much more you could focus on fostering inclusivity when you’re not slowed down by manual processes.

Conclusion

A truly diverse workplace is the foundation of innovation and long-term success.

By embedding diversity into your company culture, you unlock creativity, collaboration, and engagement across your team. 

Start with clear goals aligned to your values, ensuring diversity becomes a strategic focus.

Use technology to scale diversity efforts, equipping employees at every level with the tools to thrive. Celebrate diverse perspectives, foster inclusion, and recognize those driving change. 

As your company evolves, adapt your diversity strategies. Regularly review progress, gather feedback, and refine your approach to meet workforce needs.

By prioritizing diversity, you’ll attract top talent and build a more innovative, resilient organization.

Now is the time to act.

Ready to build a more inclusive workplace?

Take the first step toward a more inclusive, engaged, and successful workplace - one that benefits both your people and your business.

Try XtraMile’s learning platform for free and see how easy it is to create lasting change. 

Sign up for a free demo today.