According to a study headed by Yuan Zou while she was assistant professor of business administration at Harvard Business School, when a company exchanged a less inclusive CEO for one who brought others into conversations, the firm’s stock market value increased the year after.
Here are Zou’s tips for elevating others:
- Focus on small wins. Ask for more feedback and be more interactive with colleagues. During decision-making, appreciate opinions from colleagues and lower-level employees.
- Encourage impromptu meetups. Increased opportunities to exchange opinions helps employees feel more included.
- Hire with an eye toward inclusiveness. Watch for signs of a hero leader during the interview process. Look instead for expressions of inclusiveness and celebrating team success.
