Workplace Diversity: Good For Business, Good For Customers
Diversity is a hot topic in meeting rooms across the country. Companies employ entire departments to study and incorporate diversity into their workplace culture. But what does diversity really mean, why is it good, and how do companies champion diversity?
Diversity Defined
Diversity in an organization was once limited to meeting quotas and ignoring differences. Employees were expected to check their individuality at the door. Upper management rarely represented the diverse perspectives of its employees or a company's customers.
But, that all began to change during the 1990's when IBM deployed their groundbreaking model that led the way in diversity and inclusion.
Today, companies take pride in employing a workforce comprised of individuals with a wide variety of experiences. Various awards are sought after in the race to move beyond the numbers and show how diversity is valued and employed. Workforce diversity is more than race and gender and includes ethnicity, age, religion, ability, sexual orientation, and educational and work experiences.
Good for Business and Customers
Other than being fair and inclusive, how is diversity good for business? As Charles Darwin predicted, the strongest species are diverse and productivity increases with diversity. Simply put, the more diverse a population, the more successful it will be in life and in business.
Business is about the bottom line. The marketplace is diverse and multi-cultural, and at companies such as IBM, diversity is a market-based issue. Diversity of experiences or points of view lead to challenging discussions around product development and placement that reaches a broader audience. Customers will get what they want. The bottom line is a better bottom line.
But, diversity isn't only about profits. Valuing diversity leads to mutual respect in the workplace where employees' respect for each other can lead to fewer or easier resolution of conflicts. It also increases a company's reputation in the public eye.
Workplace Application
Many major corporations are serious about the application of diversity. It's no longer limited to gathering data about demographics, but more about inclusion and engagement.
Teams are designed with diversity of experiences in mind. "No rank in the room" is applied in some companies where an assistant, associate, and manager's ideas are treated with equal respect. Others employ cross-generational mentorship opportunities that lead to knowledge sharing and unique problem solving opportunities.
At IBM, diversity is linked to business goals. The focus is "good business, not good philanthropy." The goal is to be closer to the market and meet its demands by engaging with diverse clients, partners, and customers. The result is a competitive business that's a leader in workplace diversity.