BEHAVIORAL NUDGES TRANSFORM COLLABORATION – A STORY FROM STEVEN

Steven, the Diversity Chief Officer of a global manufacturing firm, discovered how behavioral experimentation with inclusion nudges improved collaboration within his organization.

He identified a challenge: regular diversity training increased awareness but did not create lasting behavioral change. To address this, he introduced inclusion nudges, small yet effective techniques that subtly encourage more inclusive actions.

Steven began with a virtual project team of 20 people. One simple nudge involved ensuring that everyone had equal speaking time during meetings. This approach allowed all team members to contribute, regardless of their cultural background or usual communication style. After four months, trust among the team improved, and misunderstandings decreased.

Encouraged by the results, Steven expanded the initiative to 100 employees across different company divisions. Participants reported feeling more connected to their coworkers, experiencing greater mutual respect, and being happier at work. Employees from China and Vietnam, in particular, expressed that they felt more valued and empowered to share their unique perspectives.

As Steven reflects, behavioral experimentation through nudges helped the organization move beyond awareness and create real, meaningful change. Inspired by this success, the company is now preparing to implement a similar nudge-based strategy for a women empowerment initiative, aiming to foster a workplace where women feel supported and ready to step into leadership roles.

This story highlights how small actions can drive significant transformation in workplace culture.