Take The Time To Really See What You Have!
Look at the forest, how would it look with just one or two trees or the exact same trees filling the landscape? How would it looks if one or two big trees stood in front of all the others and blocked the view so you could only see two trees instead of many? The way these trees compliment each other and make this forest beautiful and alive is how you should look at your organization.
I look at Diversity in the workplace as a “landscape of beautiful people”. As a Leader/Manager or what I like to refer to as “Coach”, embracing the uniqueness in every single person in your department is the key to your success in that position.
Diversity
As a world traveler I have met hundreds of people of all colors, races, religions and ethnic backgrounds. Every person brings a unique life view with amazing and interesting traditions and values. There is no right or wrong there just “is”. My experience in viewing the beauty in landscapes doesn’t come close to the beauty I have experienced in the people. Embrace the differences and create an open environment where your employees learn and embrace these unique differences.
ENCOURAGE, your team to openly share everyday. Ask questions, for example; how do they celebrate holidays, how do they spend their weekends, what kinds of foods do they eat? What traditions does their family engage in?
The key to Diversity in the workplace is being that “Coach” that shares and wants to know more. In this discovery you may find talent you never knew you had. Finding talent among your team is what makes you and your company more successful. Build open lines of communication and create ice breakers into these areas that we used to call “sensitive”. Let’s talk about how wonderful the differences make our world and our work environments. There are strength in numbers but let’s not forget the beauty that is created as well.