Over the past three years DEI has become even more important to companies and businesses. Head on LinkedIn and you’ll see chief DEI officers, DEI managers, and DEI consultants. If your company doesn’t have a department or employee in DEI you may want to consider hiring a consultant. A consultant can steer you in the right direction, especially when it comes to showing that your company and team are fully committed to genuine diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts.
You should know DEI extends far beyond donating money to non-profits or social justice oriented organizations. A DEI consultant can take it a step further by helping you decide what the best strategy is to make your workplace more diverse and equitable. They might suggest you hire more BIPOC professionals or do more hands-on work with people from underrepresented groups. They can also assist with hosting DEI workshops, doing presentations, and providing literature about DEI for employees and leaders.
Although some DEI consultants are independent contractors that doesn’t mean they won’t contribute to the success of your company. Here are a few reasons why you should consider hiring a DEI consultant.
Get Help With Organizing Your Goals
You may not have a plan fully implemented for your team or company’s DEI strategy. If you hire a DEI consultant you can get help with making a concrete plan for what you hope to accomplish when it comes to DEI. You can create daily, weekly, and yearly goals for yourself and for your business. From creating scholarships for BIPOC funded by your company to encouraging employees to mentor disadvantaged youth, there are so many ways a DEI consultant can help diversify a company.
After a concrete plan for DEI is made you should consider having a consultant host workshops with your employees. Is diversity a genuine concern for your employees or has it become performative? What is every member of your team doing for DEI in their work and lives? And why does DEI matter at all? These are some questions a consultant may ask or answer.
Although it can be challenging to produce authentic diversity efforts and initiatives, hiring a DEI consultant with an intersectional identity will make it easier for all of your employees to feel seen and heard without practicing performative allyship.
Bring In Expertise Outside of Your Skillset
It’s always a good idea for executives to have advisors who know about a specific subject that an executive may not. In the case of DEI, a consultant can bring years of studying, work experience, and training in all things DEI. However, it’s important to find out if a consultant you’re considering has certificates and degrees related to DEI.
You don’t want to hire someone who doesn’t add value to your company so make sure to research all potential candidates thoroughly. Also, strive to hire someone in DEI who identifies with at least one underrepresented group. Getting a consultant is a good investment when DEI efforts are year round rather than only being discussed during cultural months or events.
Show the world that you and your team are committed to making others feel included and respected all year. Be a genuine ally in your DEI efforts by uplifting underrepresented groups outside of designated months. Consider having DEI training quarterly instead of one time for a culturally themed month. Working with a DEI consultant can help your business develop an even more authentic approach to diversity, equity, and inclusion.