Vital DE&I trends to prioritize in 2021

Diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) efforts in the workplace are vital to the success of best-in-class organizations. In 2020, the coronavirus global health event, economic uncertainty and high-profile racial justice events are all issues that have informed the direction of DEI initiatives, and these factors will likely influence DEI trends in the coming year as well.

Here we will highlight several areas where business leaders should focus their DEI efforts in 2021 to ensure that their organizations are characterized by fairness, compassion and equal opportunity.

1. Redefining leadership

With more employees working from home (WFH), business leaders will need to build on their emotional intelligence and other soft skills. As WFH continues, the most successful business leaders will continue pivoting to help employees navigate any challenging new circumstances that may be affecting their daily work. For example, it has been demonstrated that the coronavirus global health event has disproportionately impacted women — particularly women of color, who are leaving the workforce to raise and support their families.