{"id":11826,"date":"2025-09-17T09:56:33","date_gmt":"2025-09-17T07:56:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.open-knowledge.it\/?p=11826"},"modified":"2025-09-17T09:56:33","modified_gmt":"2025-09-17T07:56:33","slug":"communication-and-engagement-two-inseparable-levers-for-change-and-gender-equality","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.open-knowledge.it\/en\/communication-and-engagement-two-inseparable-levers-for-change-and-gender-equality\/","title":{"rendered":"Communication and Engagement: Two Inseparable Levers for Change and Gender Equality"},"content":{"rendered":"[vc_section full_height=”yes” content_placement=”middle” el_class=”full-width” css=”.vc_custom_1758033145318{background-image: url(https:\/\/www.open-knowledge.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/4994×2082.png?id=11830) !important;background-position: center !important;background-repeat: no-repeat !important;background-size: cover !important;}”][vc_row][vc_column width=”5\/6″][vc_column_text]\n

Communication and Engagement:<\/span><\/h1>\n[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text] Two Inseparable Levers for Change and Gender Equality
\n<\/span><\/span><\/span> \u202f<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/6″][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][\/vc_section][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/6″][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”2\/3″][wgl_spacing spacer_size=”30px” responsive_mobile=”true” size_mobile=”60px”][vc_column_text]\n\t\t\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t17 September 2025 \n\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/span> 5<\/span> min.<\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\t\n\t\t\n\t<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][wgl_spacing spacer_size=”30px” responsive_mobile=”true” size_mobile=”60px”][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/6″][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/6″][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”2\/3″][vc_column_text]Every day, organizations exchange dozens of internal messages through various channels: newsletters, town halls, intranets, corporate chats. Yet how often do employees feel truly part of what they receive? Communication arrives, but it does not always resonate. The real difference lies in moving from simply informing<\/em> to genuinely engaging<\/em><\/strong>: it\u2019s not enough to say \u201cwhat is happening\u201d<\/em>\u2014it\u2019s crucial to explain why it is happening<\/em> and how people can play an active role in it<\/em><\/strong>.[\/vc_column_text][wgl_spacing spacer_size=”20px” responsive_mobile=”true” size_mobile=”60px”][vc_column_text]This principle applies broadly but becomes vital when we talk about Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DE&I)<\/strong>. These are not values that can be conveyed through slogans or campaigns alone; they require authentic participation<\/strong>. This is where the collaboration between OpenKnowledge and IDEM | Mind the Gap<\/strong> comes into play, supporting companies in gender equality <\/strong>initiatives by integrating communication strategies, engagement journeys, and certified measurement tools<\/strong>.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/6″][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/6″][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”2\/3″][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1758035477595{margin-top: 40px !important;margin-bottom: 20px !important;}”]\n

Beyond Information: Communication that Enables Inclusion<\/strong><\/h3>\n[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]For OpenKnowledge, internal communication is not a mere transmission channel, but an ecosystem of practices, languages, and rituals<\/strong> that help people navigate, recognize themselves, and find meaning in their work.[\/vc_column_text][wgl_spacing spacer_size=”20px” responsive_mobile=”true” size_mobile=”60px”][vc_column_text]When the focus is gender equality, communication takes on an additional responsibility: making differences visible and breaking down barriers <\/strong>that exclude. Inclusive communication thus becomes a lever of engagement, creating conditions where people feel heard and part of a collective project<\/strong>.[\/vc_column_text][wgl_spacing spacer_size=”20px” responsive_mobile=”true” size_mobile=”60px”][vc_column_text]In increasingly complex contexts accelerated by artificial intelligence <\/strong>communicating inclusively means translating change into understanding and participation<\/strong>. Because change happens through people and people act only when they feel a sense of belonging and the opportunity to contribute<\/strong>.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/6″][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/6″][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”2\/3″][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1758035582766{margin-top: 40px !important;margin-bottom: 20px !important;}”]\n

Communication, Engagement, and Inclusive Culture: A Virtuous Cycle<\/strong><\/h3>\n[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]If communication enables engagement, it is engagement<\/strong> that shapes and renews organizational culture<\/strong>. Culture does not live only in values written in strategy documents, but in everyday conversations, symbols, and ways of relating<\/strong>.[\/vc_column_text][wgl_spacing spacer_size=”20px” responsive_mobile=”true” size_mobile=”60px”][vc_column_text]When addressing gender equality, communication cannot remain neutral: it must use languages, stories, and practices<\/strong> that give voice to everyone. To support organizations, we guide them with three key principles:[\/vc_column_text][wgl_spacing spacer_size=”20px” responsive_mobile=”true” size_mobile=”60px”][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/6″][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/6″ css=”.vc_custom_1642168135550{margin-bottom: 30px !important;}”][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”2\/3″][vc_raw_html css=”.vc_custom_1758035671345{margin-top: 20px !important;}”]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[\/vc_raw_html][vc_raw_html css=”.vc_custom_1758035753100{margin-top: 20px !important;}”]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[\/vc_raw_html][vc_raw_html css=”.vc_custom_1758035788414{margin-top: 20px !important;}”]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[\/vc_raw_html][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/6″][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/6″][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”2\/3″][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1758035808412{margin-top: 40px !important;margin-bottom: 20px !important;}”]\n

From Consistency to Tools: Ambassadors and Inclusive Language<\/strong><\/h3>\n[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]New generations quickly recognize when an organization talks about inclusion only to obtain certifications or enhance reputation. The risk is \u201cDE&I washing\u201d<\/strong>.[\/vc_column_text][wgl_spacing spacer_size=”20px” responsive_mobile=”true” size_mobile=”60px”][vc_column_text]The real challenge is to transform principles into daily, visible, and credible actions<\/strong>. One effective model is ambassadorship<\/strong>: internal figures who act as authentic spokespersons<\/strong> of company values, bridging the gap between management and employees and translating abstract principles into recognizable practices.[\/vc_column_text][wgl_spacing spacer_size=”20px” responsive_mobile=”true” size_mobile=”60px”][vc_column_text]In several projects, for example, we recruited and trained groups of ambassadors<\/strong>, co-creating with them concrete initiatives<\/strong> on gender equality and supporting their implementation. This approach fosters trust and belonging because it makes change authentic and less perceived as \u201ctop-down.\u201d<\/em>[\/vc_column_text][wgl_spacing spacer_size=”20px” responsive_mobile=”true” size_mobile=”60px”][vc_column_text]At the same time, tangible tools such as a manifesto on inclusive language <\/strong>make a difference in everyday life with small but meaningful steps<\/strong>. The words we use are never neutral: they convey visions, roles, and expectations<\/strong>. Inclusive language helps overcome entrenched stereotypes and opens spaces for recognition for all.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/6″][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/6″][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”2\/3″][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1758035915584{margin-top: 40px !important;margin-bottom: 20px !important;}”]\n

The Role of UNI\/PdR 125:2022 Certification<\/strong><\/h3>\n[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]This commitment to consistency finds its focal point (and at the same time a new beginning) in the UNI\/PdR 125:2022 certification <\/strong>the Italian reference framework that defines guidelines and requirements for gender equality in organizations.[\/vc_column_text][wgl_spacing spacer_size=”20px” responsive_mobile=”true” size_mobile=”60px”][vc_column_text]The certification helps companies assess, manage, and improve<\/strong> their gender equality policies through indicators covering six key areas<\/strong>:[\/vc_column_text][wgl_spacing spacer_size=”20px” responsive_mobile=”true” size_mobile=”60px”][vc_column_text]\n