Fostering Inclusivity Making Every Voice Matter (S4) S42 E7

Welcome to “Inspirations for Your Life,” where I, John C. Morley—Serial Entrepreneur, Engineer, Marketing Specialist, Video Producer, Podcast Host, Podcast Coach, and passionate lifelong learner—take you on a journey to unlock the true power of inclusion. Today, we dive into how fostering inclusivity isn’t just an ideal, it’s the foundation of thriving communities and innovation. Making every voice matter transforms workplaces, relationships, and lives. By celebrating differences and ensuring every perspective is heard, we ignite creativity and build unity. Let’s explore how each of us can turn small acts of acceptance into a powerful movement for real change.

[1️⃣] Every voice matters. Inclusion begins by genuinely valuing every individual’s thoughts and feelings. No matter how quiet or bold, every voice adds unique perspective to the mosaic of a group. By encouraging participation and making people feel safe to speak up, we create environments where innovation thrives and individuals grow. When all voices are honored, decision-making improves, empathy rises, and everyone finds meaning in their contribution.

[2️⃣] Inclusion creates community. True community forms when no one feels left out. By consistently welcoming people from all backgrounds, beliefs, and experiences, we build bonds that go beyond shared goals. Inclusion means mutual respect, active listening, and shared support—transforming isolated voices into a harmonious chorus. It’s the glue that holds people together, creating stronger, more resilient networks in life and work.

[3️⃣] Celebrate differences. Differences are what enrich our lives and fuel progress. Instead of simply tolerating diversity, celebrate it as the source of creativity and wisdom. By shining a light on unique talents, interests, and ideas, we unlock new possibilities and build vibrant, forward-thinking teams. Let every difference be a reason to connect and learn, not divide.

[4️⃣] Listen without judgment. Listening openly and without judgment is an act of respect. When we give people space to share honestly, free from criticism or assumptions, real understanding emerges. Leaders and teams who cultivate judgment-free listening build trust and foster deeper relationships, making it safe for everyone to be themselves.

[5️⃣] Leaders amplify all voices. A true leader ensures no voice gets drowned out. By creating platforms—whether meetings, forums, or direct outreach—leaders can spotlight those who are often overlooked. Championing diverse perspectives is a mark of great leadership; it inspires teams to embrace every idea and ensures progress is shaped by all, not just a few.

[6️⃣] Diversity ignites creativity. Bringing together people with varied backgrounds, cultures, and skills generates a spark that leads to truly innovative solutions. When ideas collide in the spirit of curiosity and openness, teams break away from conventional thinking and discover new paths. Embrace diversity and watch creativity explode.

[7️⃣] Share stories, build understanding. Stories are the bridges that connect hearts and minds. Sharing experiences lets people see the world through different lenses, fostering empathy and insight. In every workplace, school, or community, shared stories dissolve bias and encourage greater inclusion.

[8️⃣] Empathy builds unity. Empathy enables us to step into someone else’s shoes—to appreciate struggles, dreams, and perspectives that differ from our own. Teams led by empathy communicate better, resolve conflict faster, and unite around shared purpose. Practice empathy daily, and watch divides disappear.

[9️⃣] Everyone has gifts. Every person holds talents and strengths waiting to be discovered. Recognizing and celebrating these gifts—however varied—offers self-confidence and a sense of belonging. Leaders should nurture each member’s unique contributions, making their teams richer and more dynamic.

[🔟] Close the door on exclusion. Exclusion is not just unfair—it’s a barrier to growth and happiness. Take active steps to prevent cliques, bias, or practices that leave anyone behind. By making inclusion a non-negotiable standard, we foster spaces where every person can show up as their authentic self and thrive.

[1️⃣1️⃣] Kindness leads to inclusivity. Simple acts of kindness—greetings, thank-yous, invitations—go a long way in making people feel part of a group. When teams practice consistent kindness, inclusivity becomes the norm, not just a goal. Make kindness the foundation of every interaction.

[1️⃣2️⃣] Speak up, fight silence. Challenge exclusion and bias whenever you see it. Speaking up, especially when others stay silent, helps protect those who might feel marginalized. When we give voice to those who are quieted, we become agents of positive change.

[1️⃣3️⃣] Celebrate uniqueness. Highlight and honor what makes each person distinctive. From skills and backgrounds to passions an

Episode Transcript

(00:22):
Well, hey guys, it's Johnson Morley here, serial
entrepreneur.
Great to be with you as we're wrapping
up this amazing week of a fantastic master
topic.
Are you wondering what that topic is?
Well, wonder no more, because I'm going to
share it with you right now in case
you missed it last Saturday when we announced
it.
That's Empowered Action and Community Connection, series four,

(00:45):
show 42.
And today's granular topic is, you ready guys,
Fostering Inclusivity, Making Every Voice Matter, series four,
show 42, episode number seven.
If this is the first time you're joining
me here on Inspirations for Your Life, a
big warm welcome to you.
If you are coming back to the show,

(01:06):
well, I want to say welcome back and
thank you for choosing to make Inspirations for
Your Life a daily part of your day.
Thank you so much.
If you're new here and you have not
checked out BelieveMeAchieved.com, why not do that
after the show is over?
You can get my short form content, my
long form content, you can get my reels,
articles, and so much more, guys, so definitely

(01:27):
check that out after the show.
And ladies and gentlemen, I don't know if
you guys know this, and when you heard
me mentioning today's granular topic, Fostering Inclusivity, Making
Every Voice Matter, series four, show 42, episode
number seven.
What does that mean, series four?

(01:47):
It means, guys, in less than a couple
months, we'll be finished with the fourth year
on the air and we'll be starting our
fifth year.
That's an amazing accomplishment.
I'm very grateful for all of you that
watch the show and have been watching the
show.
Really do appreciate that.
So without any further ado, let's get this

(02:08):
show kicked off.
But before I do that, I want to
invite you, if you are thirsty, feel free
to go get yourself some RO water, maybe
another beverage, hot or cold, maybe a snack,
maybe something chewy, maybe fruit, maybe nuts, maybe
chocolate, sweet, tart, healthy or not, that's totally
up to you.
Without any further ado, let's get this show
off the ground, all right, guys?
So a big welcome, everyone.

(02:29):
Like I said, once again, welcome to the
ever-popular Inspirations for Your Life, where, yes,
I'm John C.
Morley.
I'm your host.
I'm a serial entrepreneur.
I'm an engineer.
I'm a marketing specialist.
I'm a video producer.
I'm a podcast host, podcast coach, graduate student,
and a passionate lifelong learner.

(02:51):
And I'm going to enjoy taking you on
a journey to unlock the true power of
inclusion.
Today we dive into how fostering inclusivity isn't
just an ideal, it's the foundation of thriving
communities and innovation.
Making every voice matter transforms workplaces, relationships, and

(03:14):
lives by celebrating differences and ensuring every perspective
is heard.
We ignite creativity and build unity.
Let's explore how each of us can turn
small acts of acceptance into a powerful movement
for real change.
I think that's important to understand, guys.

(03:35):
Are you ready for the first point?
I know I am.
Number one is every voice matters.
Inclusion begins by genuinely valuing every individual's thoughts
and feelings, race, religion, orientation, creed, political party,
et cetera.
No matter how quiet or bold, every voice

(03:56):
adds unique perspective to the mosaic of a
group.
By encouraging participation and making people feel safe
to speak up, we create an environment or
environments where innovation thrives and individuals grow when
all voices are honored.

(04:18):
Decision-making improves empathy and it rises and
everyone finds meaning in their contribution.
Number two, guys, inclusion creates community.
True community forms when no one feels left
out.
By consistently welcoming people from all backgrounds, beliefs,

(04:40):
and experiences, we build bonds that go beyond
shared goals.
Inclusion means mutual respect, active listening, and shared
support, transforming isolated voices into a harmonious chorus.
It's the glue that holds people together, creating
stronger, more resilient networks in life and work.

(05:05):
Number three, guys, celebrate differences.
Differences are what enrich our lives and fuel
progress.
Instead of simply tolerating diversity, celebrate it as
the source of creativity and wisdom by shining
a light on unique talents, interests, and ideas.

(05:27):
We unlock new possibilities and build vibrant, forward
-thinking teams.
Let every difference be a reason to connect
and learn, not divide.
Number four, guys, listen without judgment.
Listening openly and without judgment is an act

(05:48):
of true respect.
When we give people space to share honestly,
free from criticism or assumptions, real understanding emerges.
Leaders and teams who cultivate judgment-free listening
build trust and foster deeper relationships, making them

(06:08):
safe for everyone to be, well, themselves.
Come as you are, as we often would
say.
Number five, guys, leaders amplify all voices.
A true leader ensures no voice gets drowned
out.
By creating platforms, whether meetings, forums, or direct

(06:28):
outreach, leaders can spotlight those who are often
overlooked.
Championing the diverse perspectives is a mark of
great leadership.
It inspires teams to embrace every idea and
ensures progress is shaped by all, not just
a few people.

(06:49):
Number six, guys, diversity ignites creativity.
Bringing together people with varied backgrounds, cultures, and
skills generates a spark that leads to truly
innovative solutions.
When ideas collide in the spirit of curiosity
and openness, teams break away from conventional thinking

(07:11):
and discover, well, new paths.
And they embrace diversity and watch creativity explode
is the key, guys.
Number seven, share stories, build understanding.
Stories are the bridges that connect hearts and
minds.
Sharing experiences lets people see the world through

(07:34):
different lenses, fostering empathy and true insight.
In every workplace, school, or community, shared stories
dissolve bias and encourage greater inclusion.
Number eight, empathy builds unity.
Let me say it again, empathy builds unity.

(07:54):
Empathy enables us to step into someone else's
shoes.
To appreciate struggles, dreams, and perspectives that differ
from our own.
Teams led by empathy communicate better.
They resolve conflict faster and unite around shared

(08:15):
purpose.
Practice empathy daily and watch the divides disappear
in your life.
Number nine, everyone has gifts.
Every person holds talents and strengths waiting to
be discovered.
Recognizing and celebrating these gifts, however varied, offer

(08:38):
self-confidence and a sense of belongingness.
Leaders should nurture each member's unique contributions, making
their teams richer and more dynamic.
Number 10, close the door on exclusion.
Exclusion is not just unfair, it's a barrier

(09:00):
to growth and happiness.
Take active steps to prevent clicks, biases, or
practices that leave anyone behind.
By making inclusion a non-negotiable standard, we
foster spaces where every person can show up
as their true authentic self and thrive.

(09:23):
Number 11, guys, kindness, kindness, kindness.
Kindness leads to inclusivity.
Simple acts of kindness, greetings, thank yous, invitations,
they go a long way in making people
feel part of a group.

(09:43):
When teams practice consistent kindness, inclusivity becomes the
norm, not just a goal.
Make kindness the foundation of every interaction.
Number 12, speak up, fight silence, challenge exclusion
and bias whenever you see it.
Speaking up, especially when others stay silent, helps

(10:07):
protect those who might feel marginalized.
When we give voice to those who are
quieted, we become agents of positive change.
Sometimes it's scary to speak up, but we
really should, because if we don't, another person
might not have the courage to.

(10:28):
Number 13, celebrate uniqueness.
Highlight and honor what makes each person distinctive.
From skills and backgrounds to passions and quirks,
uniqueness should be showcased, not hidden, and the
more we encourage people to embrace their individuality,

(10:53):
I should say, the more we feel creativity
and allow us to enjoy that amazing sense
of joy.
Number 14, make space for perspectives.
In meetings, brainstorming sessions, or problem solving, actively
solicit input from every voice in the room.

(11:15):
Make space by seeking out new opinions and
honoring those that challenge the norm.
Diverse perspectives broaden thinking and lead to better
solutions.
Number 15, diversity is power, guys.
Strength in teams comes from diversity, not just

(11:37):
in background, but in thought, experience, and also
approach.
The wider the range of ideas, the greater
the power to innovate and adapt.
Lean into diversity as your team's greatest asset.
Number 16, inclusion is a responsibility.
Creating welcoming, safe environments isn't just a nice

(12:01):
to have, it's an ethical responsibility leaders and
team members alike must hold themselves accountable for.
Inclusivity, reviewing policies, behaviors, and attitudes regularly to
ensure nobody is left out.
Number 17, guys, break the invisible barriers.

(12:24):
They're there.
Many forms of exclusion are subtle, unspoken rules,
biases, or traditions that can push people out.
Take time to identify and dismantle these invisible
walls.
Encourage transparency, openness, and adaptability so everyone has

(12:44):
an equal shot at success.
Number 18, guys, build circles, not walls.
Foster a culture where groups and teams recharge
by drawing new members in, not blocking outsiders
out.
Build circles of connection by reaching across differences,

(13:09):
sharing resources, and supporting newcomers.
The wider the circle, folks, the stronger the
group.
Number 19, seek unheard voices.
Go out of your way to invite feedback
from those who rarely speak up.
Provide anonymous suggestion boxes, one-on-one, check

(13:33):
-ins, or focus groups to ensure all voices
are heard.
Sometimes the quietest voices hold the most valuable
insights.
Number 20, guys, all of us deserve a
seat.
Equality is about more than just opportunity.
It's about making sure every person gets noticed
and valued.

(13:55):
Redesign processes and conversations so that everyone knows
their presence is wanted and their input is
vital.
Number 21, unity needs every story.
Unity doesn't mean sameness.
A united group is made up of many
stories.

(14:15):
By allowing each story to be shared and
respected, teams create deep trust and mutual understanding.
Honor the journey of each member and watch
unity flourish.
Number 22, authenticity sparks connections.
Be real in all you do.

(14:37):
Authenticity encourages others to drop their guards and
connect more honestly.
Genuine relationships are the building blocks of lasting
inclusivity.
Number 23, lift others up.
Go out of your way to offer encouragement.

(14:58):
Support and help each act of lifting someone
up.
Whether by mentoring, listening, or advocating, it cultivates
a culture where everyone knows they're valued.
Number 24, listen more, assume less, let go
of presuppositions when engaging with others.

(15:22):
This is so key.
Get rid of those biases or those initial
judgments that you put on people or labels.
Get rid of them.
Listen actively, ask questions, and take time to
understand before you decide.
Reducing assumptions boosts trust and makes every member
feel heard.

(15:43):
Number 25, embrace differences, empower growth, welcome difference
as a resource for growth and development, not
something to fear or ignore.
By supporting and learning from distinct ways of
thinking, teams multiply their potential and performance.

(16:08):
Number 26, togetherness beats loneliness.
I've said this before.
Inclusion's greatest gift is togetherness.
When everyone feels connected, loneliness shrinks and energy
rises.
Strong inclusive teams offer belonging and support, fueling

(16:28):
happiness and creativity.
Number 27, inclusion is a movement.
A truly inclusive culture is never finished.
It's an ongoing movement.
Keep pushing for more voices, more acceptance, and
more understanding.
Lead the change and inspire others to join

(16:51):
you.
Number 28, your welcome counts.
Never underestimate the power of welcoming gestures.
And invitations.
Sometimes a simple act of reaching out changes
someone's entire experience.
Make your welcome known and let it ripple

(17:12):
through every group.
Number 29, start with courage.
It takes courage to break patterns and open
doors for others.
Stand up, speak out, and act inclusively, even
when it's uncomfortable.
Every courageous act sets a new standard and

(17:33):
inspires others to do the same.
So now I want to share a very
personal story.
And it's funny.
I didn't plan this.
This whole topic just happened like this.
And a situation occurred in my life today.
I'm not going to give you any of
the specifics.
But I'm going to give you some of
the details.

(17:54):
So it was at a university.
Um, it was a group that I would
frequently go to.
And thought that I was pretty welcome at
the group.
And so, um, um, basically, uh, today I
had gone to the group, uh, for one
event.
And then, uh, there was going to be
another event, uh, later in the evening.

(18:17):
And there was a speaker coming about a
specific book.
So I was really looking forward to this
speaker.
Well, I had RSVP'd about a week or
so ago, letting know that I'm coming.
And, um, I got there early for the
one event, went to the one event.
And then I was talking to another graduate

(18:37):
student.
And mostly they're undergraduates there.
But there's another graduate student that I was
talking to.
And, uh, I was walking outside, um, because
we had to walk outside to get to
somewhere else.
And just as I'm about to cross the
threshold into this other building, like the yard
of this other building.

(18:59):
This gentleman, I say gentleman in a very,
um, let's say professional way.
But really, should I call this person a
gentleman?
Well, I do, because you know, that's how
I am.
He comes over to me.
And he goes, he calls me aside.
He goes, uh, John, this is what he
said to me.
He says, um, I'm not going to, I'm

(19:21):
not going to give you all the details,
but I'm just going to tell you what
he said.
He said that, you know, um, we don't
have a speaker tonight.
And, um, this is going to be a
game night.
And game nights are reserved for usually our
undergraduates.

(19:41):
So I took like a step back and
I said, so basically I'm not welcome.
Well, not tonight.
You know, we don't mind when it's a
speaker or something like that.
But, you know, this is just for the
undergraduates.
So I kind of paused and I said

(20:02):
to the person, I said, hey, I said,
um, well, you know, I RSVP'd a week
ago and it would have been nice to
know that I wasn't welcome.
Now, I also didn't bring up to the
fact to him that there was another graduate
there.
But he said to me that it's not
really for undergraduates.
That made me feel a little hurt.

(20:27):
Why?
Because it was a community I was fitting
in and belonging to.
And, um, I was a little hurt.
So, um, I just said, okay.
Didn't even look the person really in the
eye.
And I just basically walked out.
A little bit sad.
And I said, what can I do?

(20:48):
So I, um, picked up my phone.
Being as a university and I sent an
email to, um, one of the officers that
I knew there.
Who has always been friendly and nice to
me.
And I let him know why I left
this evening.
I want to let him know who caused

(21:09):
me to leave what they said to me.
And pretty much that I wasn't welcome.
So my feeling is, if I'm not welcome
at that event, why would I ever go
to any other event?
Inclusivity.
Undergraduates, graduates.
All kind of working together.

(21:30):
That should be inclusive.
But lately, and I'm not going to name
the organization is it was kind of give
it away.
But lately, the certain organization that's not just
on campus.
It's starting to get very clicky.
There was an event that happened and we
were gonna.
Um, say hello.
And he kind of ignored me and I,
I felt this vibe from this person.

(21:53):
That they were kind of dissing me.
I didn't really let it bother me.
But when I walked outside.
And I was about to cross that threshold
into the other yard.
And he called me aside.
He's like, uh, you have a minute.
I, I, I got it.
I have to talk to you for a
moment.
And he did it in such a cowardice

(22:15):
way.
I mean, if I wasn't welcome.
At least you could have reached out and
told me.
That I wasn't welcome.
I gotta tell you, I don't usually feel
pretty bad.
But this evening I felt pretty bad.

(22:36):
The way he.
He talked to me.
Am I gonna do anything else about it?
Probably not.
Maybe I might, uh, send him a copy
of this video.
Because I think this institution.

(22:57):
This group that he's part of.
Would really not be in alignment with this.
And talking about inclusivity.
And talking at the fact that all are
welcome.
When we're not really welcome.
You're welcome to a point.

(23:19):
Should there be exclusion between grads and non
-grads?
I don't think so.
There was nothing harmful going on.
Everyone was getting along.
So.
People do this for a couple reasons.
One.
They're trying to protect their space, right?
They're afraid of something.

(23:40):
Don't know what that is.
But they're afraid.
So they're being overly protected.
That's one reason they do this.
The second reason they do this is.
Well, they just want control.
But.
What would have been the appropriate way to
say you're not welcome?
Maybe giving me a call on the phone

(24:00):
saying.
Hey, John.
You know, I know you signed up for
the event.
Coming up on this day, this time.
I want to let you know that that
event is not open to graduates.
Now, I've been taken back a little bit.
Sure.
But.

(24:21):
It would have been the lesser of the
two evils to do it that way.
I think.
When you can feel a vibe from somebody.
You can feel that their energy has.
Well, gone negative.
You can.
And I felt this.
I felt this person's vibe go negative.

(24:43):
I could just.
I had this sense around me.
Like the energy was just not positive.
It didn't say anything.
But I just knew something was up.
And then he said to me.
Well, John, I had to find the right
moment.
And I just couldn't find the right time
to get you.
So you just wait till.

(25:04):
Five minutes before this other event.
To pull me aside.
And tell me pretty much.
I'm not welcome.
I was very taken back by this.
And to be honest.
I don't want to fight.

(25:27):
But I don't think I ever want to
go back to this organization ever again.
I was so.
Shell shocked.
By this.
And, you know, I'm not a person that's
lost for words, right?
That when he said, you know, you're basically,
you know, it's.

(25:47):
It's really just for.
The undergrads.
I kind of put my head down and
I said, okay.
And I just walked up.
The yard and out the stairs.
And I just was a little bit saddened
because I said to myself.
If I was in.

(26:08):
A reverse position.
Would I have said.
To a graduate.
You're not welcome.
No.
That was very sad guys.

(26:32):
And I feel a lot of people want
to say they're inclusive.
But you know what?
They're really not inclusive.
Okay.
They want to say they're inclusive to make
it sound so.
Great, right?
But what does inclusive really mean?
Well, it's an adjective.

(26:53):
Broad in orientation or scope.
The traditional systems group organisms and place them
in a hierarchy, right?
Inclusive.
Including and accommodating people who have historically been
excluded because of race, gender, religion, et cetera.

(27:15):
Graduate status and undergrad status would be another
case of that.
So my question is.
Why would.
Let's say a group.
Administrator.
Tell me that.
Tonight.
Is only for.

(27:37):
Undergraduates.
Last minute.
That was rude.
And on professional.
Right.
Or wrong.

(28:00):
It's crazy.
A group admin telling me at the last
minute that tonight's event is only for undergraduates.
Can feel rude and very unprofessional for a
lot of reasons.
Late notice means you likely planned your evening
or made arrangements to come.
When we discover you're excluded.
Showing little respect for your time and your

(28:20):
expectations.
Such last minute communication can make attendees feel
unwelcome or singled out.
Rather than valued as part of the community.
Professional event management calls for clear, timely announcement.
It undermines trust and can leave people feeling
disappointed.
Embarrassed or even disrespected.
Good admin strive for inclusive transparency.
Should I have been excluded?

(28:43):
That's my question to you guys.
Those of you that are grads or undergrads.
Should I have been excluded from them?
Kind of crazy.
I think the answer should be no.

(29:04):
I should not have been excluded.
That's my feeling.
Okay.
I should not have been excluded without clear
advanced communication or respectful consideration.
The last minute just jab was so unprofessional.
Treating me like I don't even matter.

(29:27):
Well, guys.
I'm Johnson Morley, serial entrepreneur.
Be sure to check out BelieveMeAchieve.com.
And I hope that if somebody ever excludes
you.
You say something about it privately.
Because a lot of people do this for
many reasons that are just not fair.
Have yourself a great day and a great
evening.
And I'll catch you real soon.
Check out BelieveMeAchieve.com for more of my

(29:47):
amazing inspiring creations.
And we'll have a brand new master topic
tomorrow.
We'll see you Saturday.