It’s 2021 and the times, they are a-changing.
The Youthquake of recent years has seen young people push against the status quo and highlight some really important social issues (it’s fantastic!). As our societal landscape changes, these ideals naturally filter into the working world (and rightly so). There are lots of conversations happening around diversity and inclusivity, both in and outside the workplace.
Although there are many definitions of these terms, at their core, they are really about basic human rights. It’s a basic human right to not be discriminated against on the basis of who you are. Diversity and inclusivity in the workplace are about making all individuals feel seen, represented and supported. We all know that we don’t live in a just or fair world, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t strive to improve it. Why not start in the workplace?
Creating diverse workplaces is not just something companies should do to seem “on trend”, it actually makes a massively positive impact on company culture and outcomes. Companies who are proactive in creating diverse teams perform better than those who don’t. A 2018 study by the Boston Consulting Group found that diverse teams bring in more bang for their buck (19% more, to be precise) than less diverse teams, purely because they are more innovative. Just as the natural world thrives because of the symbiotic nature of biodiversity, the human world (and therefore, the working world) does just the same.
Diversity is not skin deep. It’s not a superficial tick box exercise. It’s about hiring and retaining staff with conflicting ideas, perceptions and thoughts… when they are all brought together, the result is a kaleidoscope of creative spark, innovation, inspirational and well-informed ideas, and real results. Creating an environment where your teams feel safe to speak up and share their thoughts, encourages a sense of belonging, which is the real key to inclusivity.
Workplaces that lack diverse voices are in danger of ’groupthink’, a psychological phenomenon that occurs when a team or group becomes too similar in outlook. Diverse teams protect against this dreaded phenomenon, which can be a death-knell for creative thinking and individual responsibility. By including people with fresh perspectives and encouraging them to get involved and speak up, untold value is added to any company.
Massive cultural shifts are happening in the world around us and more and more companies are seeing the positive impact diversity can bring to their teams. First and foremost, companies need to do what it takes to create and retain diverse teams. Diversity and inclusivity need to be top of mind in the hiring process, the promotion process and in the daily functioning of the company. If your company isn’t doing this, then use your voice and speak up about it. Let your employers know that you want to work in more diverse teams.
Our approach to diversity and inclusivity is simple. We know that diversity is the spice of life. It doesn’t matter what a person’s age, gender identity, race, sexual orientation, or ethnicity is, everyone is welcome. We believe that when you bring exceptional people of all backgrounds together, that’s when the magic happens! We’re inclusive — we want to get to know, and work with, the real you.
If every company adopted this mentality, imagine what we could achieve together?
Reference:
- https://www.forbes.com/sites/annapowers/2018/06/27/a-study-finds-that-diverse-companies-produce-19-more-revenue/?sh=4c2b8dba506f
- Photo by Joel Muniz on Unsplash
