Appreciate the Unique
Value the differences in others’ stories and ideas.
Amplify Others
Help everyone’s voice be heard.
Enhance the Team
Consider what a new addition will bring that’s different.
Rethink Routine
Look to equalize meetings, assignments and social events.
Open Up
Speak up for what you need and encourage feedback.
Apply these actions to make a positive impact with your colleagues, no matter where you work
Download a printable PDF version of Adobe For All In Action.
Dive deeper and try the five actions today.
Appreciate the Unique
- Invite a team member you don’t know well to lunch or coffee.
- Ask about someone’s personal interests outside of work, without talking about yourself.
- Praise a team member’s unique strengths in a meeting or email.
- Hear out a new idea without interruption and say that you appreciate the perspective.
- Join an employee network meeting or event to learn more about its community or culture.
Amplify Others
- Help colleagues break into meeting discussion, especially if they’re on phone/video.
- Actively invite meeting participants to contribute if they have been silent.
- Call out and prevent interruptions – “I don’t think Chris had a chance to finish explaining her idea”.
- Send out meeting agendas and pre-reads to help everyone feel prepared.
- Be aware of people re-stating another’s contribution: “I agree, Chris said that a few minutes ago and it’s a terrific idea”
Enhance the Team
- Help recruit more diverse candidates through your personal network and community events.
- Avoid “pedigree bias” when considering candidates – i.e. looking for only certain schools or past employers.
- Ensure interview panels are diverse across personal traits (gender, race/ethnicity, LGBTQ+, age), seniority levels and backgrounds.
- Focus interviews on complementing (vs. duplicating) existing dimensions on the team.
- Experiment with new screening and interview practices to ensure the selection process is fair and welcoming.
Rethink Routine
- Examine team responsibilities to ensure a balanced load of “housekeeping” duties such as note-taking.
- Distribute stretch assignments equally across team members to challenge everyone.
- Be thoughtful in planning team outings to ensure everyone’s interests and needs are considered.
- Avoid social relationships and patterns that could make others feel left out.
- Consider time zones when planning meetings and strive to balance everyone’s participation.
Open Up
- Deliver both positive and constructive feedback regularly to your manager, peers and direct reports.
- Be consistent in the quality of feedback you give to everyone (lack of direct feedback isn’t “kind,” it’s harmful to long-term success).
- Be timely, transparent, and authentic in your observations of others and address conflict when it arises.
- Regularly ask for feedback and appreciate those who offer it to you.
- When receiving critical feedback, ask clarifying questions instead of reacting or getting defensive.
Explore our Adobe For All In Action blog posts
Appreciate the unique.
Amplify others.
Enhance the team.
Rethink routine.
