Here at Women in Estate Agency, we’re passionate about achieving true equality for everyone in the estate agency world. We want to empower women from all walks of life in this industry, helping them grow and reach their full potential. This means creating workplaces where everyone feels welcome and valued, and where all kinds of talent can really shine.

It’s important that we have inclusive workplaces – places that truly value diversity and make sure everyone gets a fair shot. This isn’t just because the world is changing around us (which it is!), but also because it actually makes businesses do better.

Why Inclusion is Key

It’s amazing what happens when you bring different people together – it fuels innovation and helps solve problems! When you’ve got folks from diverse backgrounds, with different experiences and ways of seeing things, it helps everyone understand clients better and sparks greater creativity. And in estate agency, connecting with clients is so important. A team that’s just as diverse as the people we serve means we can offer more understanding and support, especially when clients are going through a tough time.

Plus, when everyone feels included, it creates a real sense of belonging. This makes people happier at work, more motivated, and more likely to stick around. Valuing and respecting everyone isn’t just the right thing to do – it’s essential for everyone’s well-being and for your business to thrive.

What Make a Workplace Inclusive?

When a workplace is inclusive, it usually means you’ll see:

• Open Communication: It’s about valuing what everyone brings to the table, no matter where they sit in the company. This means actively encouraging everyone on the team to share their thoughts and ideas, whether they’re new or have been there for years.
• Equitable Advancement: Everyone should have a fair shot at growing and developing their career, without any bias (unconscious or not) getting in the way. To make this happen, it’s important to have clear and open processes for things like promotions and career development.
• Valued Differences: It’s about recognising and celebrating all the things that make each of us unique. This means creating a culture where everyone feels comfortable being themselves, and where different perspectives are seen as a real strength.
• Mutual Respect: It’s about treating everyone with kindness, understanding, and empathy. This means creating a space where people feel comfortable suggesting new ideas and sharing their opinions, even if they’re different from others.
• Authenticity: It’s important that everyone feels safe to be their true selves at work. No one should feel like they have to pretend to be someone else or hide who they really are.

How to Create an Inclusive Workplace

Building a truly inclusive culture takes time and effort – it’s a journey, not a quick fix! To help you along the way, here are some ideas:

• Start the Conversation: Encourage open and honest conversations about diversity and inclusion. Create opportunities for everyone to share their experiences and thoughts in a supportive environment.
• Invest in Learning: Offer training and workshops that focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion. Also, help everyone understand and address unconscious bias, so we can all become more aware and create a more respectful environment.
• Check Your Processes: Take a good look at your hiring, promotion, and development plans to find and remove anything that might be unfair or create barriers.
• Create Support Systems: Set up employee groups where people can find support, connect with others, and build a sense of community, especially for those who might be underrepresented.
• Celebrate Diversity: Show that you value diversity by acknowledging and celebrating different cultural events and holidays.
• Stand Up for Inclusion: Challenge any behaviour that’s not inclusive and always promote fairness.
• Lead by Example: It’s crucial that leaders show inclusive behaviours themselves, creating a workplace that’s open, fair, and welcoming to everyone.

Take Steps Toward Inclusion

It’s amazing what we can achieve together, even with simple actions. Here’s what you can do right now:

• Use Inclusive Language: Be mindful of your words and avoid any language that could exclude or offend anyone.
• Listen Actively: Really pay attention when colleagues are talking, showing them that you value what they have to say.
• Challenge Assumptions: Be careful not to jump to conclusions about people based on where they come from or how they look
• Ask for Feedback: Invite colleagues to share their thoughts on how to make things more inclusive. This shows you’re serious about always wanting to improve.

Women in Estate Agency: A Source of Support

Women in Estate Agency actively supports those working to build inclusive workplaces. Our community provides resources, guidance, and networking to drive positive change in the sector.

Become a part of the conversation and join our community of over 4,000 women in estate agency. Join the Women in Estate Agency Facebook Group.

Embracing the WiEA Charter

For organisations wanting to really show they’re serious about these values, the WiEA Charter gives you a solid plan of action. By becoming a Charter Member, your organisation is saying, ‘We’re all in!’ when it comes to creating an inclusive workplace, supporting leadership, and striving for the best in the estate agency world.

By joining the charter, you pledge to:

• Offer support, training, and development to the women in your business.
• Treat all women fairly and with respect.
• Actively care for and support women both professionally and personally.
• Uphold ethical principles and go beyond the legal requirements.
• Be open and honest by encouraging feedback to continuously improve workplace culture.

To show off your commitment, you’ll gain access to our valuable charter member resources, join a network of like-minded organisations, and get WiEA Charter marketing materials to publicly show your support for diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Together we thrive.

To make progress with DEI we all need to come together to share our insights and experiences. Let’s work together to build a more inclusive future for estate agency.

Find out more and join the WiEA Charter here.