Here’s the common mistake: “If we just get some diversity in the door, inclusion won’t be a problem!” Nothing could be farther from the (and here I’m tempted to use a capital T) truth—these two words, “Diversity” and “Inclusion”, have no intrinsic connection, though we so often talk about them in the same breath.

In a recent piece in Minnesota Business by Beth LaBreche, she outlines suggested questions for an annual customer survey. Perhaps one of the most important is “Does our external perception—if you believe one exists for us—match up with what you experience?” This is a thought worth exploring that touches upon many levels within a business. How does your customer see you? Is the image you are conveying through branding or any type of communication true to who you are?