Marc Haine explains why politeness alone doesn't equal respect. Inclusive communication requires active listening and genuine engagement, not just avoiding offense.
What exactly is inclusive communication in comparison to what we think is respectful?
Whereas inclusive communication is more about listening. I would say when we think about maybe being respectful communication or the assumption of what inclusive is, it's like avoiding saying the wrong thing, avoiding offending people. Whereas, so it's kind of seen as like this thing that I have to do that's maybe interpreted as a bit of a hassle. Whereas being inclusive isn't about not doing this. It's more about what you do, which is taking that time to really listen to people.
