How small businesses can commit to diversity

This article is sponsored by PECO, an Exelon Company.

Are you looking for a way to expand the social impact of your small business? Consider committing to diversity. Updating your hiring practices to be more inclusive is a great way to show up for your community, but there are ways to commit to diversity beyond that, both in your client and vendor interactions.

Here are five ways your small business can commit to diversity.

Look at your current workforce – is it a reflection of the community that your business is in? As you bring on new hires to your business, make sure that you are posting job listings on a variety of platforms to reach a wider pool of applicants. If you’re looking for a specific set of skills, contact local universities or alumni groups to spread the word that way.

There are many ways in which you can make your customers feel welcomed by your business. Make sure that you provide alternatives for customers with disabilities, pay attention to the wording on signs and menus, and if there are other languages that are spoken in your community, consider hiring staff that are fluent so they can communicate easily with your clients.

Finding the perfect candidate for a position can be difficult, but it’s important to remember that a person’s resumé may not tell their full story. Someone may have a gap in their employment history because they took time to stay home with young children or a sick relative, or maybe they’re coming from a different field and are now trying to break into yours, but that doesn’t mean they’re less qualified than someone who took a more traditional career path. Because they have a skill set that may not be as easy to quantify, ask them questions about their outlook and how they think instead of mainly focusing on their previous jobs when interviewing them.

Are there vendors in your area that are minority-owned businesses, have women in leadership positions, or are actively involved in helping the LGBTQ+ community? Consider giving them some of your business. In the same way that your clients support you, you can support diversity in your business community.

Put in a conscious effort to make everyone on your staff feel seen, heard, and valued, and train them to do the same not just with each other, but with your clients and vendors. Everybody has a different life path, so take that into consideration with your interactions, and treat them with respect. Remember that, as a leader, how you treat others is a direct reflection on your business.

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