Video: Develop relationships with people different from you

Creating an inclusive work environment: Develop relationships with people different from you

In this short video, we explore how developing relationships with people different from you can lead to a more inclusive work environment.

We challenge you to:

• Identify a colleague with a different background, gender identity, or role
• Initiate contact: Invite them for coffee or a lunch break
• Ask about interests, experiences, their role, etc

The Creating an Inclusive Work Environment mini video series is a program of the Midwest Research Computing and Data consortium DEI Affinity Group. The twelve short videos explore a presentation given by Maureen Biggers, “Allyship for the Midwest RCD Community – Survey Results and Future Actions” during the 2024 Midwest RCD Annual Meeting/Retreat. Each video ends with a call to action to help you create a more inclusive work environment.

Introduction:
Inclusive diversity is the process of building inclusive work places by promoting collaboration, creativity, innovation, fairness, respect in an environment where all employees believe they belong. Creating inclusiveness work spaces in the tech industry, or any industry for that matter, is not just about grand gestures, it’s about the small every day actions that communicate belonging and respect. Think about it, a genuine compliment, a warm introduction, acknowledging someone’s hard work, these seemingly small gestures, what researchers at MIT call micro-affirmations, have a huge impact. They build trust and motivation, fostering a culture where everyone feels seen and valued.

This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. 2227627. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.

To find out more about the Midwest Research Computing and Data consortium visit https://midwestresearchcomputing.org . To learn more about the Pervasive Technology Institute at Indiana University, visit https://pti.iu.edu .