Embracing DEIB Work: A Path to Understanding, Growth, and Connection

The cultural climate around diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) work has shifted. For some, it feels invigorating—a moment of reckoning and opportunity. For others, it feels fraught, even exhausting. And for many, there is uncertainty: What does it mean to engage meaningfully in conversations about identity and inclusion when the discourse around these topics is often politicized, reactive, and polarized?

At InnerShift, we believe that engaging in DEIB education, conversations about identity, and efforts to create more inclusive workplaces and communities is not just a professional obligation—it is deeply healthy behavior. It is essential to personal and collective growth. We do not get better at things by avoiding them, and avoidance has a cost. When we sidestep difficult conversations, we lose the opportunity to grow, to understand, and to strengthen our relationships with those around us.

DEIB Work Is Personal Work

As a white guy, my journey with “DEIB work” has been profoundly personal. This work has allowed me to better understand my own identity, my perspectives, and the ways I move through the world. It has helped me to recognize the privileges I hold and the ways in which my experiences differ from those of others. But more than that, it has given me a deeper appreciation for the experiences of people I care about—the people I love, work with, and interact with every day.

There is a misconception that DEIB work is solely about "helping" others or "fixing" something external. But in reality, it is about cultivating self-awareness, developing empathy, and strengthening our ability to navigate an increasingly diverse and interconnected world. When we engage in this work, we don’t just support those around us—we expand our own capacity for understanding, leadership, and meaningful connection.

Dialogue Over Division

At InnerShift, we are committed to engaging in this work not with a clenched fist, but with a deep appreciation for dialogue. Too often, conversations about diversity and inclusion are framed as confrontational or combative, as if the goal is to "win" an argument rather than foster understanding. But meaningful change does not happen through coercion or fear. It happens through honest conversations, through the willingness to listen, and through the courage to engage even when it feels uncomfortable.

There is no growth without discomfort. When we avoid difficult conversations, we not only remain stagnant, but we also reinforce the very divisions we claim to oppose. We have to be willing to lean into the tension, to ask hard questions, and to recognize that learning is an ongoing process. The goal is not perfection; it is progress.

The Cost of Avoidance

Avoiding discussions about identity, equity, and inclusion does not make the need for them disappear. Instead, avoidance deepens misunderstanding and resentment. It allows harmful systems to persist unchecked. It leads to workplaces where employees feel unseen, where retention suffers, and where innovation is stifled because diverse perspectives are not valued. In our communities, avoidance leads to disconnection, polarization, and a weakening of the social fabric that holds us together.

When we refuse to engage, we deny ourselves the opportunity to build relationships across difference, to challenge our own assumptions, and to be part of the change we say we want to see. Avoidance may feel easier in the short term, but in the long run, it carries a heavy price.

An Invitation to Deepen Your Understanding

If you believe, as we do, that DEIB work is not about checking a box but about meaningful, sustained engagement, we invite you to join us for our Inclusive Excellence Leadership Program. This is our most intensive leadership development program, designed for individuals who want to deeply understand how to build more inclusive and welcoming workplaces and communities. It is a space to learn, to challenge yourself, and to engage in the kind of dialogue that leads to real transformation.

We do not get better by avoiding the work. We get better by stepping into it with curiosity, humility, and a willingness to grow. We hope you will join us in this journey.