Book Helps Businesses Increase Performance

A new book released in March by James McKim, managing partner of Organizational ​Ignition, aims to helps boost organizational performance through diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). “The Diversity Factor, Igniting Superior Organizational Performance,” explores various areas of DEI— race, gender, age, neurodiversity, implicit bias, white privilege/normativeness, belonging and culture, as well as provides readers with a roadmap to improve organizational performance.

Driven by the murders of George Floyd and other African Americans, McKim spent three years conducting research. “I started thinking about how can I contribute to changing the narrative around diversity?” he says. “I have been talking about the advantages of diversity for individuals for years. What about organizations?”

McKim notes that research conducted by PriceWaterhouseCoopers and McKinsey show organizations with female leaders are 27% more likely to outpace their peers. And those businesses with leaders of different races and ethnicities are 31% more likely to outpace peers.

In his book, McKim takes a deep dive into how exactly DEI creates better business performance, improves efficiency and creates relevancy as well as financial viability.

The book explores how diversity brings different perspectives to the table, which in turn fuels innovation. “Many organizations are not prepared to do that,” McKim says, noting that leaders may need help learning how to be inclusive. “We’re talking culture change.”  

McKim says adding DEI efforts can create a culture where everyone feels they belong and can bring their “authentic selves.” But, in order for those efforts to work, there must be buy-in and support from the C-suite. “Boards need to make it very clear that diversity, equity and inclusion are a priority,” McKim says.

He adds that before beginning, there should be an in-depth analysis of the current state of the business and its DEI efforts.

“I recommend organizations look at every policy and procedure you have with an equity lens,” McKim says. “What barriers do the policies and procedures put up for people from underrepresented groups? What assumptions are you making in these policies and procedures?”

“The Diversity Factor, Igniting Superior Organizational Performance” is available on Amazon as an ebook. A print version will be available this month.

For more information, visit organizationalignition.com