What's up with all that diversity stuff in the corporate world? Discover the reasons why companies need diversity and inclusion.
Every year, several companies invest thousands of dollars in implementing diversity/inclusion. The reason: they help build stronger teams with better problem-solving skills, resilience and empathy. According to Josh Bersin's research [ENG], inclusive companies are 1.7 times more likely to be leaders in their own industry, able to solve problems more easily, and enjoy an extensive list of benefits from being a diverse place.
We believe that diversity and inclusion are key elements in the growth of any organization in the 21st century. And although some companies decide to diversify for marketing or financial (?) reasons, we must admit that it also has a direct impact on the workspaces, the human beings that make it up and their mental health.
In short. Whether for those companies that honestly want to fuck with the corporate system or those that want to inflate their pockets with marketing campaigns, the million-dollar question remains: How do you start implementing it? First things first:
It's having different "types" of people on your team. A "diverse" team includes individuals from different socio-economic backgrounds, nationalities, ethnicities, races, sexual orientations, gender identities, education, etc. This gives an organization different perspectives on certain topics.
There are 4 types of diversity:
Inclusion is giving every team member the opportunity to play a role, express an opinion, actively participate and have access to the company's resources.
In a soccer team, diversity means having different "types" of players, inclusion means passing the ball to each of them so they can play.
There are many reasons why diversity and inclusion are important to organizations. Understanding these can help us incorporate diversity-inclusion into clear goals and better approaches. Here are some of the reasons why companies are looking to become more inclusive and diverse:
Every company has a different approach to implementing diversity/inclusion. Just like human DNA, each case is unique, however, here are some common practices:
When you diversify a team, there are two important aspects to consider: First, when you diversify, you are adding other visions to the mix, this will inevitably change your team for something different than what you have now, you have to be prepared for that transformation. Second, when we go through this process, we have to be aware that each person is unique, and does not represent a whole nationality, sexual orientation, social level, etc. When we diversify, the risk of falling into labels and generalizations increases, we must avoid it.
Whatever approach you take, make sure you have a clear goal and processes. Also, be sure to engage the entire team in open discussions about diversity and inclusion. Trainings and workshops can also help lay the groundwork for diversity and inclusion in your company.
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