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Setting SMART DEI Goals: A Roadmap for a More Inclusive Workplace

Setting meaningful Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) goals can feel overwhelming. Where do you begin? How do you ensure your efforts are truly impactful and not just empty promises?

The good news is there’s a powerful framework that can guide you: SMART goals.

What are SMART Goals?

1. Specific: Clearly defined and focused.
2. Measurable: Quantifiable and trackable.
   • Key takeaway: How will you know if you’ve succeeded? Include numbers, percentages, or other quantifiable measures.
3. Achievable: Realistic and attainable within then given timeframe and with available resources.
   • Key takeaway: Set challenging but realistic goals that push you, but don’t set yourself up for guaranteed failure.
4. Relevant: Aligned with broader goals and priorities.
   • Key takeaway: Ensure your goals contribute to your overall business objectives and are worthwhile in pursuing.
5. Time-bound: Set within a specific timeframe with clear deadlines.

SMART DEI Goals in Action

Setting effective DEI goals is crucial for creating a truly inclusive workplace. Vague intentions like “improve diversity” are unlikely to yield meaningful results. Instead, organizations need to adopt a structured approach. Here’s an example of what an impactful DEI goal could look like using the SMART framework.

Increase the representation of women in senior management positions by 15% within the next 18 months.

This goal demonstrates how the SMART framework can be applied to a specific DEI objective. Here’s the breakdown:

1. Specific: Clearly defines the target group (women) and the desired outcome (increased representation in senior management).
2. Measurable: Quantifiable goal: a 15% increase in female representation. Progress can be tracked by monitoring the number of women in senior management roles at regular intervals (e.g., quarterly).
3. Achievable: The 18-month timeframe allows for the implementation of necessary initiatives, such as unconscious bias training for hiring managers and promotion committees, mentorship programs for high-potential women, targeted recruitment strategies to attract more female candidates for senior roles.
4. Relevant: Aligns with the overall goal of creating a more diverse and inclusive leadership team and contributes to a more equitable workplace and can improve the company’s reputation as an employer of choice.
5. Time-bound: Sets a clear deadline of 18 months for achieving the desired outcome, which creates a sense of urgency and helps to ensure accountability.

This example demonstrates how a DEI goal can be formulated using the SMART framework to ensure it is specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound.

Remember: the specific goals and timelines will vary depending on factors such as your organization’s size, current state of DEI, and available resources.

Benefits of Setting SMART DEI Goals

• Increased Accountability and Trackable Progress: By setting specific, measurable, and time-bound goals, you can easily track progress and identify areas for improvement. This allows you to demonstrate the impact of your DEI initiatives to stakeholders and hold yourself accountable for achieving your objectives.
• Focused and Impactful Efforts: SMART goals ensure that your DEI efforts are targeted and impactful. By focusing on specific areas for improvement and setting clear metrics, you can avoid wasting resources on ineffective initiatives.
• Enhanced Employee Engagement and Motivation: When employees see that their organization is committed to DEI and is making tangible progress towards its goals, it can boost morale, increase employee engagement, and foster a stronger sense of belonging.
• Improved Company Reputation and Attracting Top Talent: A strong commitment to DEI can enhance your company’s reputation as an employer of choice. This can attract top talent from diverse backgrounds and can even contribute to your competitive edge!

Closing Thoughts

Setting SMART DEI goals can help you ensure that your DEI initiatives are effective, sustainable, and ultimately contribute to the long-term success of your organization.

Remember, the journey toward diversity, equity, and inclusion is ongoing. SMART goals provide a roadmap to guide your efforts, track your progress, and celebrate your successes along the way.

Need support setting clear and achievable DEI goals for your organization? We’re here to help! Get in touch to learn more about setting SMART goals that will drive meaningful DEI impact within your organization and across the waterfront.