5 Advantages of Diversity in the Workplace
Diversity” isn’t a
politically-correct buzzword that’s thrown around. There are concrete,
real advantages
of diversity in the workplace.
Many companies know that they should try to hire diverse employees, but the
benefits of a diverse workforce might not be obvious at first blush.
A key to keep in mind
when working toward a diverse workplace is that Diversity
and Inclusion consulting is not a bingo card with squares you can check off. Diversity doesn’t
just mean racial diversity either – it can include national diversity
(employees with green cards), women (especially in male-dominated fields),
LGBTQIA employees, religious diversity, disabled employees, and even just
employees with varied and diverse work experiences. In short, diversity comes
in all shapes and sizes. Put away any idea of meeting ‘quotas’ and focus
instead on keeping an open mind.
1. Diversity
fosters innovation.
Birds of a feather
flock together – aka if you put five people in the same room that have the same
background, they will likely come up with similar ideas to approach a problem.
If you put together a diverse group of five people and offer them the same problem,
you might surprise the solutions that are offered. Experience influences the
lens through which each individual sees the world.
Diverse teams have
been shown to be more productive, more creative, and more
innovative than teams consisting of teammates within a similar
demographic. Promoting diversity not only within your organization as a whole,
but within departments or teams will boost your company’s productivity.
2. Opens
global opportunities.
Let’s face it – the
Internet has brought people all over the world closer than has ever been
possible. For many companies, it’s not enough to set your eyes on conquering
your home marketplace. It’s about becoming a world leader in your industry.
It’s possible that you already do business with vendors or clients in numerous
countries. Diversity
and Inclusion consultants in your workplace often means uniquely diverse skillsets that can
translate to a global stage. Do you have employees that speak other languages?
Understand other cultures? Have friends in other countries? Perhaps you have an
employee with knowledge of local marketplace conditions. These are all
advantages of diversity in the workplace.
3. Improves
your organization’s culture.
Millennials are the
most diverse working generation in history. When your organization is perceived
as accepting, diverse, and inclusive, it’ll increase your talent pool, draw in
star candidates, and create a happier, more productive
workplace. Many Millennials look for the ability to bring their ‘whole’
selves with them to work – they don’t want to worry about discrimination for
being authentically themselves. Creating a diverse workplace can improve
retention, increase your chances of snagging your favorite potential hire, and
improve morale.
4. Improve your
company’s brand.
Just like with office
culture, creating a diverse workforce can improve your customers’ opinions of
you. Remember, Millennials are not just employees but consumers. They look for
the same qualities in the companies that they purchase from as they do from
companies they might work for. Diverse companies show consumers that they are
inclusive, global minded, innovative, and looking toward the future. As you’ve
probably heard, the generation in school today is the most diverse generation
in history. Diversity is only going to increase in this post-Internet world so
it’s important for companies to not only passively promote diversity, but that
they create initiatives to ensure that diverse employees are not only recruited
but supported within the workplace.
5. Offer
better customer service.
Diverse employees can
better assist a diverse customer base. From speaking ASL to understanding
customs in other countries, your employees will bring unique skills to the
table that make them uniquely suited to interacting with your customers.
For example, most consumer buying power rests within the hands of women that
control the household. If you work for an all-male tech startup, you could be
accidentally alienating a core customer base if you hire no women. Customers
like to speak to people that understand their experiences, see their
grievances, can recommend products and services that work for their unique
situations. Hiring diverse employees will help your company relate to your
customer base.
Comments
Post a Comment