More than ever, a workplace is a diverse collection of individuals proud of who they are: their gender, their sexual orientation, their religion, their ethnic background, and all the other components that make an individual unique. One of the challenges for workplace leaders is how to help these diverse individuals work as a team.
We all know what happens to organizations that don’t have effective teamwork: they fail. And, failing to embrace diversity can also have serious legal costs for corporations.
Success can only happen when we learn to recognize and celebrate diversity in the workplace while bringing individuals together.
Defining Diversity
The Oxford English Dictionary defines diversity as, “A diverse range; a variety.” Well, if you look around you, your organization, your community, your church, your classroom etc., you will definitely see a diverse range of people; after all, we’re all individuals with unique qualities and no matter where we are, folks are going to be DIFFERENT.
But diversity is about more than just differences. It’s about recognizing those differences, accepting them, and allowing them to change our perceptions.
Some of the advantages to being a part of a culturally diverse team or organization can be measured with just more that dollar signs.
Valuable advantages can include:
Different points of view
Better productivity
Healthier teamwork and cohesion
Improved ability to attract business from a variety of sectors/geographical areas
Possibility of lower legal cost
And my favorite…YOU JUST MIGHT LEARN SOMETHING!
Could there also be some disadvantages? As with anything else…Of course there can.
Some people might have a real problem adjusting to a diverse workplace or environment and interacting with people who are different from them? However, is becoming open-minded and learning a bad thing?
The answer to that question must be answered by the individual upon the results of a true heart search.
Defining Related Diversity Terms
There are many terms out there in relation to diversity.
Some include:
Affirmative Action (AA)
A plan put in place by U.S. President Lyndon Johnson in 1965. It requires a business’s workforce to mirror the community. For example, if a community is 85% Asian and 15% Mexican, one would expect the workforce to have the same sort of proportion.
Assimilation
A process where a minority culture is expected to adopt the behaviors and standards of the majority culture. For example, when women first joined the workforce in the 1960’s and 1970’s, they were often expected to wear business suits and de-feminize their appearance to match the norm of the time: men in business suits.
Bias
An inclination towards a certain belief, often interfering with objective judgment.
Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO)
Introduced as part of civil rights legislation in 1964, this effort attempted to ensure positions in the workplace for “protected classes,” which included groups like women, veterans, African-Americans, and people with disabilities. Because this program was not entirely effective, Lyndon Johnson introduced the Affirmative Action mandate in 1965.
Prejudice
An opinion formed based on biases, without complete information. Also refers to an irrational hatred of a specific group (often ethnic or religious).
Sexism
A prejudice against a particular gender. Often appears in the form of role stereotyping.
Stereotype
A conventional, usually oversimplified opinion applied to a particular group.
Changes in Our World
Each of the aforementioned terms has an interesting origin and history behind it. Can you recall a time you were impacted either positively or negatively by any of those terms? Everyone has a story to tell, I’m sure.
There have been many changes in our world and the dynamic it is made of will constantly change as time goes on.
Ask yourself, what changes have occurred during your present time of employment? What changes have occurred in other places you frequent? What about your community? Is it growing more diverse?
Do you see:
New races or ethnicities living in your neighborhood
New places of worship different from those you are accustomed to
New types of restaurants with food you’ve never tried
More senior discounts as our population ages
Women in many different types of roles
Biological orientations presenting differently from what you are accustomed to
People with disabilities in all types of roles within organizations
And much more…
Although these changes are inevitable, some will still see them as challenging, just as some see them as beneficial.
Another moment of introspection for you. Have you found it difficult or easy to adapt to the changes in your world?
Self-Awareness
I personally like to begin with me. Taking inventory of my thoughts, perspectives, and perceptions about the world around me, especially in the workplace, helps me to recognize any creeping notions that may be contrary to my values.
How do you evaluate your view on the differences that make humanity great?
How would you answer yourself, if asked these questions?
Do I try to look for similarities between people instead of differences?
Do I have biases? What are they?
Am I interested in learning more about diversity and do I try to seek out information whenever I can?
Do I like being in new situations and trying out new things?
Do I try to look for the positive aspects in situations and people?
Do I follow the platinum rule; Treat others the way THEY want to be treated?
Am I an effective communicator?
Do I practice empathy and put myself in other people’s shoes?
Does diversity and discrimination mean different things to different people?
The key to embracing our differences is first acknowledging that we ARE different. And it is those differences that make this world an awesome place to live in. Always new things to learn, always new things to experience. What role are you playing to make this world a better place for ALL?
GO BE GREAT! GO BE YOU!
Thank you!
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