To be a successful business in today's culture you need to create
an environment of inclusion where people feel valued and integrated into a
company's mission, vision and business strategy at all levels. When
employees' skills and knowledge are recognized, appreciated and utilized
they are more engaged in contributing to an organizations' success. They
are more willing to go the 'extra mile' and share ideas and innovation. The
visible and invisible dimensions of diversity that they bring are used as
resources for success and growth. In order to create an inclusive work
environment you need a diverse workforce.
Organizations make two common mistakes in recruiting a diverse workforce
that cause them to fall behind their competition and even lose market share.
1. "Company photo diversity"
The organization only considers the visible dimensions of diversity
primarily race, and gender. The company photo looks good but everyone
thinks the same. Differences that include sexual orientation, geographic
background, thinking and communication style, work function, ability and
disability, religion, and work style are not valued and are even
discouraged. This is a very narrow definition of diversity and offers
little or no value to the organization in terms of new ideas, creativity
and innovation.
2. " Diversity by Numbers"
Again diversity is defined by what you can see. Demographics reflect the
outside community but it is only at the lower levels. (Production, and
unskilled labor) There is little or no diversity as you move up into
management. When questioned about diversity in their organization, they
point to all the numbers. Every year they have good "numbers", but the
people are constantly changing. Employees leave and get jobs where there is
a value of diversity at all levels and they are encouraged to move up in
the ranks.
Addressing the Issues
To be a successful business in today's culture you need to create an
environment of inclusion where people feel valued and integrated into a
company's mission, vision and business strategy at all levels. When
employees' skills and knowledge are recognized, appreciated and utilized
they are more engaged in contributing to an organizations' success. They
are more willing to go the 'extra mile' and share ideas and innovation.
They spread the word that your organization is a great place to work. They
are enthusiastic about recruiting their talented colleagues to fill open
positions who bring new ideas and diverse ways of thinking, solving
problems and expanding market share.
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