Inclusive Leadership in Careers
Treat others the way you want to be treated”- A universal golden rule
President Tinubu recently declared that “no Nigerian is second-class” while pledging inclusive development across all regions.
This statement carries weight beyond politics. It whispers a truth into our careers, companies with inclusive leadership are 1.7 times more likely to lead in innovation and 35% more likely to outperform their competitors.
The Soft Skill At The Heart Of This: “Inclusive Leadership”
Inclusive Leadership is not about treating everyone the same. It is about recognizing everyone’s unique value and creating space for all voices.
- Teams fail when some members feel invisible.
- Careers stall when bias blocks opportunities.
- Leaders fail when they build walls instead of bridges.
“Excellence is created through diversity, not uniformity”.
The Dangote Inclusion Story
In the 1980s, Aliko Dangote could have easily hired only from his Northern Nigerian roots. Instead, he made a different choice. He built his trading company with managers from Lagos, engineers from the East, and marketers from the South.
When critics questioned his diverse hiring approach, Dangote’s response was simple: “Business has no tribe.” He understood that cement production needed Southern engineers who understood coastal logistics. Sugar refining needed Eastern expertise in manufacturing. Oil operations required Western knowledge of maritime trade.
Today, Dangote Group employs over 30,000 people across 18 African countries. His inclusive leadership didn’t just build Africa’s largest business empire, it created a blueprint for how Nigerian leaders can unite diverse talents toward one vision.
The lesson?
Dangote’s wealth came from including everyone, not excluding anyone.
How To build Inclusion In Your Workplace
Tinubu’s approach teaches us that inclusion isn’t given, it’s built. The same is true in workplaces. You build inclusion when you;
- Listen to all perspectives equally
- Make decisions that benefit the whole team
- Give credit where it’s due
- Create psychological safety for everyone
Teams with equal gender representation perform 21% better than homogeneous teams.
How This Affects You And Your Career
The lessons from this extends directly to your professional life:
1. Inclusive Leadership Builds Trust
Just as nations need fair representation, teams need leaders who value everyone. When you include all voices, people trust you more.
2. Inclusion Drives Innovation
Diverse businesses are seven times more likely to enter new markets. Different perspectives create breakthrough solutions.
3. Inclusive Leaders Get Promoted
Companies actively seek leaders who can unite diverse teams. This skill accelerates your career growth by positioning you as leadership material.
Actions to Take To Create Inclusion In Your Career
You may not lead a nation, but you can lead inclusively in your role.
Start by;
- Ask quieter team members for their input in every meeting
- Challenge bias when you see it happening
- Celebrate diverse achievements equally across your team
- Let every member have a sense of belonging and can contribute
CareerPaddy Takeaway
Nigeria has 250+ ethnic groups, but Tinubu pledges no one gets left behind. Your workplace has diverse people too. By mastering Inclusive Leadership, you can unite your team, drive better results, and rise as a leader who brings out everyone’s best.
Quick Challenge:
Think about your last team meeting. How many different perspectives did you actively seek? If it’s less than 3, you’re missing Dangote-level opportunities.
Your Next Step:
Take our free Inclusive Leadership Assessment on the
Discover your inclusion strengths and get a personalized development plan to advance your career through inclusive practices.
What’s one way you’ll practice inclusive leadership this week?
Leave your comment below😊
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