shared by: Arjuna Adhiradewa Andika (2802515684)
Creativepreneurship, Binus University

 

In many organizations, efforts to create a fair and inclusive workplace often focus on formal policies such as clear rules, HR procedures, or diversity statements. But according to some research, there’s another, often overlooked factor that plays a critical role: informal norms.

These norms are the unwritten rules that guide how people interact, communicate, and behave at work. They can be as subtle as expectations around replying to emails after hours, the tone used in meetings, or who typically speaks up and who stays quiet. While these behaviors may seem minor, they have a significant impact on fairness, equity, and inclusion.

Here are three ways leaders can influence workplace norms and encourage employees to act as norm entrepreneurs to build a fairer environment for all to thrive.

Change perceptions of “how we do things here.”. Our understanding of what others think and do is often misaligned with reality, leading us to form inaccurate assumptions about what behaviors are considered acceptable or typical in a particular setting. For instance, although most Americans support diversity and inclusion efforts, many mistakenly believe that others around them do not share the same level of support.

To change perceptions of prevailing norms, ask yourself:

  1. What data might you be able to collect or share that could challenge employees’ existing beliefs about an issue?
  2. What behaviors can you role model that will shift your organization’s culture in a positive direction?
  3. What is something you’re already doing that you wish more employees did as well—and how could you make those actions more visible in your workplace?

Find the right audience. Anyone can influence social norms, but our impact increases when we tailor our message to the right audience, those who view us as trustworthy and persuasive. Advocacy for fairness tends to be more powerful when it comes from individuals who either benefit from existing systems or who defy expectations by succeeding in environments where they’re underrepresented.

To find the right audience for your norm entrepreneurship, ask yourself:

  1. In which spaces, conversations, or contexts might I be an “unusual suspect” for a cause?
  2. Are there people different from me whom I could purposefully support or advocate for?
  3. What are my sources of credibility (e.g., experience, authority, ability to inspire), and which colleagues do I have credibility with?
  4. Whom could I tap as an unusual suspect to help advocate for my cause?

Leverage collective action. Promoting fairness isn’t a solo mission, it requires collaboration. For fairness to become widely accepted, shared commitment is key. Norms gain strength as more people adopt them. Even though it may seem daunting for one person to shift the culture of a large organization, meaningful change often begins with small steps, starting with one’s own behavior and gradually engaging others. A single individual can initiate progress by rallying even a small group of like-minded colleagues.

To leverage collective action as norm entrepreneur, ask yourself:

  1. What is a norm that I would like to spread throughout my organization?
  2. How can I prove the concept in my own work first?
  3. Which (ideally influential) colleagues could I recruit to try the norm shift with me?

In conclusion, creating a truly fair workplace goes beyond implementing policies, it requires a conscious effort to understand, challenge, and reshape the unwritten rules that guide daily interactions. By recognizing the power of social norms and intentionally influencing them, individuals and organizations can foster environments where fairness and inclusion are not just ideals but lived realities. Change may begin with one person, but it gains momentum through collective action. When employees at every level take ownership of the norms they uphold, fairness can become not just possible, but inevitable.

 

Source: Chilazi, S. & Bohnet I. (2025). To Make Your Workplace Fairer, Take Charge of Its Norms. Harvard Business Review. https://hbr.org/2025/05/to-make-your-workplace-fairer-take-charge-of-its-norms Retrieved on Apr 3, 2025.