Leading through Conscious Inclusion, One Decision at a Time

According to the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE), "Conscious inclusion is a deliberate, intentional and proactive approach to creating a culture that values diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility. It involves changing behaviors, policies and systems to be more inclusive and create a sense of belonging." While the wording may change over time, the principle remains the same: Create an environment that allows diverse viewpoints, ideas, experiences and identities to benefit the organization as a whole.

Conscious inclusion is not a separate initiative. It shows up in everyday decisions: who gets invited into leadership, which policies get reviewed and how new programs are designed. When it's missing, you see it in who never volunteers and which members stop renewing. You do not need extensive expertise to practice conscious inclusion, but it does take intention and a habit of asking who is and is not at the table. In governance and executive leadership, those habits set the association up for long-term success.

For governance, a successful association engages diverse perspectives and experiences at all levels of leadership. Consider the intersecting characteristics that shape your leaders' viewpoints, rather than viewing them through a single identity. This includes not only personal identities (such as race, ethnicity and gender identity) but also professional identities (such as organization and discipline). Bringing leaders with diverse experiences and perspectives to the table fosters innovation. Opening leadership roles at every level, from committees to the board, gives members a path to grow into larger roles. Here’s how conscious inclusion can show up in some of the governance competencies in the CAE Exam Content Outline.

Please select this link to read the complete article from ASAE's Center for Association Leadership.