Why it Matters and How to Promote it in the Workplace

Every person is unique. This is also true with people working for a company. One worker is different in so many ways from another. They have distinct personalities, behaviors, skills, and more. And the obvious differences with their gender, race, age, and ethnicity.

But diversity should not be something bad. On the other hand, companies should embrace and honor it. Today, diversity plays a key role in the success of many organizations. For this reason, most companies are now applying practices that promote diversity.

What is Diversity?

To put it simply, diversity is a mix of differences. It covers aspects that make a person unique. This includes race, gender, age, sexual orientation, and more. A diverse company is one where a variety of these aspects exist.

In a workplace setting, diversity is part of the DEI practice. This stands for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. This approach creates a workplace that respects people of various identities and backgrounds. DEI ideas aim to welcome and include all workers within a company. It also allows them to have an equal chance to grow and add to the company’s success.

Types of Diversity

Diversity is not a simple idea. There are many aspects that add to it. Some are visible while others are not. There are also aspects of it that people can control and there are those that they cannot. Companies can classify diversity into four aspects. These are Internal, External, Organizational, and World View.

Internal

This type refers to what a person is born with. These are factors that a person cannot easily change. This includes a person’s race, age, country of origin, and ethnicity. Also, there is also the person’s gender, form, physical and mental ability.

External

External diversity are aspects linked to a person with which they were not born. But a person can control these aspects. These cover family status, interests, schooling, location, and religion.

Organizational

These aspects are often present in the workplace. These include job roles, tenure, affiliation, work location, and work status.

World View

The last diversity type refers to the aspects people feel, see, and experience. These include cultural events, politics, and knowledge of history.

Why Diversity Matters?

Diversity has become a part of people's daily lives. It exists in all places. But the real question is why diversity matters? Here are some reasons that can answer that question.

1. Improves Creativity and Innovation

Creativity is the ability to produce unique ideas. While innovation is the process of transforming these ideas into new things. Having diversity in the workplace can improve these two elements. When diverse people work jointly, they bring fresh ideas and strategies.

2. Better Decision-Making

A diverse group of people can make better decisions. They are likely to ponder various views and ideas. This can lead to smarter decisions and better outcomes.

3. Enhance Staff Engagement

Workers are happier when their companies accept and respect them. This is despite having differences from one another. As a result, they work better and value the company more. Also, this approach can lead to having a positive culture at work.

4. Improves Customer Service

In any type of business, there is a need to serve diverse types of people. Firms aim to meet the needs of these people. They can do it well if there is a diverse workforce to do the job. This can also lead to building strong bonds with clients and keeping them loyal.

5. Improves Company Reputation

Most companies put in effort into making a name for themselves. Nowadays, branding and name can make or break a business. Diversity plays a vital role in creating a good name for a company. Boosting diversity within the workplace reflects a company’s views on fairness and equality.

Practices that Promote Diversity

There are instances where efforts to honor diversity fail. On the other hand, there are also best practices companies can use to counter that.

1. Educate leaders at all levels.

2. Create a team to assess company policies on DEI efforts.

3. Honor the things that make each worker different.

4. Value workers for their strengths.

5. Listen to the ideas of other people within the company.

6. Urge workers to share more ideas during meetings.

7. Relay plans for boosting diversity and inclusion.

Companies need to avoid seeing diversity in a bad way. Instead, they should honor and embrace it. This can lead to major changes for the business and the workforce in a positive way.