From Affinity to Inclusion
Building a flywheel of success for life and career
There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. — Galatians 3:28 (NIV)
In Christ, we are made equal. Our backgrounds, genders, and social positions don’t determine our worth. God still gives different callings. Some preach, some lead, some serve. But the distinction is about function, not value. It’s not about where we come from, but how we respond to His call.
In leadership, however, we often default to comfort. We’re drawn to people who speak our language, share our culture, or remind us of ourselves. Affinity is natural. But if we’re not careful, it becomes exclusion. That’s when we stop building teams and start building silos.
During a project in Belgium, I worked with a French-speaking team. I didn’t know the language and felt like an outsider. But my manager, Stephen Tilley, made a deliberate choice. Whenever I was around, he asked the team to switch to English. He ensured I was part of every conversation. That act of inclusion didn’t just make me feel welcome. It opened long-term opportunities. I stayed in Belgium for six years, and I still credit Stephen for modeling that kind of leadership.
Since then, I’ve made it a point to do the same. Even when I’m with Tamil-speaking teammates, I switch to English if someone else is present. I create space for every voice. I encourage quiet team members to speak up, lead small presentations, and grow into their roles. Those who rise do so not because of favoritism, but because they used the opportunity well.
Affinity builds comfort. Intentional inclusion builds trust. And trust builds strong, diverse teams.
# Action Items
- Reflect on who you naturally include and who you unintentionally leave out.
- Identify one person on your team who rarely speaks in meetings. Ask for their input this week.
- Establish a culture of shared language, open forums, and equitable opportunities.