Building Bridges: Best Practices for Inclusivity in Global Teams

Global teams bring together people from all over the world, each with unique ideas, values, and ways of working. Diversity is a big advantage, but it can also create misunderstandings and barriers if inclusivity isn’t prioritized.

Building cultural bridges means actively working to connect your team members. It also means prioritizing trust and encouraging collaboration. Let’s dive into why inclusivity matters and how you can promote it effectively in your workplace.

Why inclusivity matters in global teams

Inclusivity is about making sure everyone feels valued and has the chance to contribute. For global teams, this is especially important. Your team may come from different backgrounds and may not share the same cultural norms. Without inclusivity, team members might feel left out or misunderstood. This can lower morale and, ultimately, affect your productivity.

When you promote inclusivity, your team becomes stronger. Employees feel supported, stay motivated, and are likelier to stick around. Inclusivity also makes your team better equipped to serve a global customer base. Not only does that provide better problem-solving, but it also reflects the diversity of your audience.

So, learning how to promote DEI in the workplace isn’t just about doing the right thing—it’s also a smart business move.

What is DEI?

Before exploring best practices for inclusivity, it’s important to understand what DEI stands for and why it matters. DEI stands for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. These are three key elements for creating a workplace where everyone feels respected and supported.

• Diversity encompasses the unique differences among individuals. It includes aspects such as race, gender, age, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, and more. It’s about appreciating and valuing these differences to enhance collaboration and creativity.

• Equity ensures fairness by recognizing that people have different needs. In the workplace, it's about providing them with the right resources and support to succeed. It goes beyond treating everyone equally by addressing systemic barriers.

• Inclusion focuses on creating a culture where everyone feels welcome and empowered. In such an environment, everybody feels safe to contribute, regardless of their background or identity.

Organizations that invest in DEI initiatives build stronger teams. DEI initiatives help with innovation and help businesses achieve better business outcomes. These principles don’t just benefit employees. Rather, they create workplaces where collaboration and creativity thrive.

Understanding cultural differences

Cultural differences affect how people work, communicate, and make decisions. For example, some cultures prefer group discussions before making a choice. Others value quick, individual decisions.

These differences aren’t right or wrong—they’re just different. However, they can lead to conflicts or confusion if not addressed.

How to practice inclusivity

Inclusivity helps create an environment where everyone feels respected, valued, and empowered. Let’s dive deeper into some actionable ways you can practice inclusivity in your global team:

Use appropriate language

The words you choose can create a welcoming atmosphere or unintentionally exclude others. Using inclusive language means thinking about how your words affect different people. For instance, instead of addressing a group with “guys,” try “everyone” or “team.”

Similarly, avoid assuming pronouns—ask people how they want to be addressed. Providing a space for sharing pronouns, such as in email signatures or meeting introductions, can set the tone for respect. If you make a mistake, acknowledge it, apologize, and make the correction.

Be mindful of proximity bias

Proximity bias occurs when those working in physical offices get better treatment than remote workers. In-office workers can be perceived as more engaged or productive than their remote colleagues. This bias can leave remote team members feeling undervalued.

To counteract this, ensure remote employees have equal opportunities. This means allowing everyone to participate in meetings, lead projects, or receive recognition. Rotate meeting times to accommodate different time zones. You can use tools like virtual whiteboards or polls to engage everyone equally.

Be flexible with communication styles

Communication preferences vary widely among individuals. Some people thrive in brainstorming sessions, while others prefer time to process ideas and respond later. Offering flexibility in communication methods can help everyone feel included.

Use a mix of synchronous tools, like video calls, and asynchronous options, like email or collaborative documents. For instance, send meeting agendas in advance. It will help your introverted team members prepare and contribute comfortably.

Diversify your visuals

Visual representation is a powerful way to demonstrate inclusivity. Ensure the images, icons, and materials you use reflect the diversity of your team and audience. This could mean including visuals that represent everyone. Think of different ages, genders, ethnicities, and abilities.

Make sure to include representation in presentations, social media posts, or training materials. For example, a company brochure featuring a variety of people sends a clear message of inclusion.

Get familiar with different cultures

Understanding the cultural backgrounds of your team members helps build stronger relationships. It also helps to avoid misunderstandings. For example, you might discover that certain hand gestures have different meanings in other cultures. Or, that some team members observe holidays you’re unfamiliar with.

Take time to learn about these traditions and respect cultural differences. This can be as simple as sending a thoughtful holiday greeting. You could also add holidays to your calendar and skip meetings during significant cultural events.

Practice active listening

Active listening goes beyond hearing words—it’s about understanding and valuing what someone is saying.

When a colleague speaks, give them your full attention. Show it to them by maintaining eye contact, nodding, and avoiding distractions. Reflect back on what you’ve heard, such as saying, “It sounds like you’re suggesting…” to confirm understanding. Active listening fosters trust and ensures everyone feels heard.

Encourage feedback and ideas

Inclusivity thrives when team members feel their opinions are valued. Create an environment where feedback is welcomed. You can ask for feedback through regular surveys, anonymous suggestion boxes, or open-door policies.

In meetings, explicitly invite quieter team members to share their perspectives. Publicly recognize contributions to encourage others to voice their ideas.

Provide accessible resources

Accessibility is a key component of inclusivity. Ensure that training materials, tools, and platforms are usable for everyone.

For instance, add captions to video content or offer screen-reader-compatible documents. You should consider providing alternative formats for important materials. Multilingual options can also make resources more accessible to global teams.

Celebrate diversity

Celebrating your team members' unique qualities strengthens bonds and promotes inclusivity. Host cultural awareness events, like a virtual potluck, where team members share dishes from their home countries. Recognize and celebrate international holidays to make everyone feel seen and valued. These celebrations can be simple but meaningful gestures that build camaraderie.

Address biases head-on

Unconscious biases can influence hiring decisions, team dynamics, and career growth opportunities. Equip your team with training to recognize and mitigate these biases. For example, structured and standardized evaluation criteria can help reduce bias in recruitment.

Best practices for creating inclusivity

Creating an inclusive global team starts with actionable steps. All the steps above promote understanding, respect, and collaboration. Here are some extra practices to create a workplace where everyone feels valued and empowered to contribute.

Encourage open communication

Strong communication is the backbone of inclusivity. Make sure all team members feel heard and understood, no matter where they are. Use tools like Slack, Zoom, or Microsoft Teams to keep conversations flowing. If language differences are an issue, consider translation tools or multilingual resources.

During meetings, ensure everyone has the chance to contribute.

A simple DEI tip for meetings: call on quieter team members or rotate who leads discussions. This small gesture helps everyone feel included and valued.

Celebrate cultural diversity

Acknowledge and celebrate the unique cultures within your team. Recognizing cultural holidays or hosting events can go a long way in showing appreciation.

For example, create a shared calendar that highlights holidays from various countries. This isn’t just a great diversity tip—it’s a fun way to connect your team.

You can also encourage employees to share traditions, foods, or stories from their cultures. These activities create opportunities for learning and bonding, making your team more cohesive.

Provide inclusivity training

Inclusivity training teaches your team how to navigate cultural differences with respect. Sessions on cross-cultural communication and unconscious bias can make a big impact. Focus on practical takeaways your team can apply right away.

Make these sessions part of your regular professional development. Providing tools and guidance on diversity, equality, and inclusion tips will help your team grow.

Create flexible policies

Your team members may have different needs based on their cultural or personal situations. Flexible policies can show that you respect and value these differences. For example, allow employees to adjust their schedules to observe religious practices. Or, work around time zone differences.

A daily DEI tip: regularly review your company policies to make sure they’re inclusive and up-to-date. Simple changes—like adding floating holidays or adjusting meeting times—can make a big difference for your team.

Use technology effectively

Technology can bridge gaps in communication and collaboration. Tools like Miro for brainstorming or anonymous feedback apps can help everyone participate. It will help even those who might feel shy about speaking up to voice their opinion. These tools also make it easier to keep track of projects and share updates across different locations.

Don’t forget about virtual team-building. Schedule online coffee chats or game nights to build stronger personal connections. This helps create a sense of community, even when your team is miles apart.

The role of leadership in inclusivity

Leaders play a crucial role in fostering inclusivity. Your team looks to you to set the tone and lead by example. Show cultural sensitivity by being aware of your own biases and taking steps to address them. Create mentorship opportunities that pair employees from different backgrounds. It will help them learn from one another.

Here’s a DEI tip for work: clearly communicate your commitment to diversity and inclusivity through actions, not just words. This includes supporting initiatives, celebrating milestones, and actively involving yourself in inclusivity efforts.

Encouraging accountability and growth

Inclusivity isn’t just a one-time effort—it’s an ongoing process. Create a culture of accountability by setting clear goals for DEI in your workplace. For example, track how often employees participate in diversity training. Or, you can use inclusion surveys to measure feedback.

Offering learning opportunities encourages personal growth. Consider opportunities such as courses on cultural awareness or leadership skills. These help your team build bridges while also advancing their careers.

Conclusion

Building cultural bridges in global teams is all about creating connections. By promoting inclusivity, celebrating differences, and using tools to support your team, you can foster a workplace where everyone feels valued. Start small with actions like sharing a DEI tip of the week, and watch how these efforts can transform your team dynamics. Inclusivity isn’t just good for your employees—it’s essential for your business’s success.

FAQs

What is inclusivity in global teams?

Inclusivity means creating an environment where all employees feel valued, respected, and empowered.

How can employers promote DEI in the workplace?

Employers can promote DEI by encouraging open communication and offering cultural sensitivity training. Employers should also be addressing biases and providing equal opportunities for growth.

Why is cultural awareness important for global teams?

Cultural awareness helps team members understand diverse perspectives and avoid misunderstandings. Overall, it helps build stronger, more collaborative relationships in teams across different regions.