Have you ever listened to children offer alternative ways to solve a problem? They each take turns sharing their thoughts until they lose interest and just move on to another topic. They disagree but never spend too much time dwelling on who wins the argument. 

The first step in building belonging and inclusion is investigating the contours of your workforce.

NFL football is a big business. It is more popular than ever and creates many of the most watched shows in the United States each year. And each of those games provides leadership lessons, if we look for them. If you are a football fan, you are going love this article. But even if you aren’t a fan, read on, because the leadership lessons from NFL football that I am about to share might be more revealing to you.

When you picture a leader, who comes to mind? Likely someone charismatic, outspoken, and commanding a room with ease. But leadership doesn’t always look—or sound—like that. In fact, some of the most effective leaders may not be the loudest voices in the room. Introverted leaders bring a quiet strength to the workplace, one that often goes unnoticed but has a profound impact on teams and organizations.

A recent study by Gallup found that 7.6% of U.S. adults¹ identify as LGBTQ+, double the number in 2012. To put this in perspective, that is more than the number of people who identify as Asian American. More so, one in five Gen Z adults² identify as LGBTQ+.