Diversity of Thought in Organizations_3601

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Diversity can easily be treated as a buzzword,[link widoczny dla zalogowanych], numbers game or as a program. When this happens, the full power and impact of its meaning is lost. Diversity is much more than a program, hiring a few people of different gender or ethnic backgrounds or allowing a few diverse opinions to surface from time to time. It is actively searching out and embracing the uniqueness, strengths and talents and "thoughts" of all people,[link widoczny dla zalogowanych], so the organization can have a collective impact on the greater good of the individual, organization, customer and the community.
As you strive to respect the thoughts of those around you, both inside and outside the organization, consider often how you both answer and demonstrate your answers to the following questions.
o Do I work at understanding and extending myself to others?
o Do I understand cultural, religious, gender, racial and other differences?
o Do I treat people of all backgrounds and beliefs fairly?
o Do I value working with a diverse group of people?
o Do I acknowledge and value different backgrounds and perspectives?
o Do I make personal decisions that are fair?
o Do I actively seek to build teams of people taking "diversity of talent" into account?
o Do I ask unique people for their unique perspective?
o Do I act as a facilitator/coach in mending relationship differences in those around me?
o Do I practice "systems thinking" by thinking from others' perspective?
o Do I practice empathy or try standing in the other person's shoes?
o Do I seek to understand another point of view before passing judgment?
o Do I listen actively for "diversity of ideas" rather than agreement?
o Do I encourage and accept "diversity of thought" as being important to enhancing the competitive advantage of an organization?
o Do I truly accept others as they are, while assisting them to grow in accepting others as well?
Diversity of thought really means being able to draw people from a wider base of talent. In fact, encouraging diversity is inseparable from creating opportunities to draw the very best talent from a global talent pool. No special group has an edge on information, knowledge or talent. As the organization grows a web of inclusion of thought, it will often begin to include a global workforce as well as a global marketplace. The acceptance of the value we place in diversity, expands the knowledge required in the real-life business scenarios we face everyday. Diversity allows the organization to tap into the greater variety of unique talents, which are found in a workforce made up of people with diverse backgrounds.
We must collectively build cultural bridges with each other, realizing that diversity awareness is a not an event but a growth-oriented and life-long process. Diversity is about the thoughts and input of everyone in the organization, not just some of the people. It is about the engagement of the mind and heart of all stakeholders.
We must continually peel back our assumptions, suspend our defensiveness, invite deeper connections and together create organizational alternatives that drive action and change toward inclusiveness of both present and future stakeholders. This should not be done simply for the sake of being inclusive, but rather for the need to invite diverse innovative thinking which can better serve the organization and those customers it serves.
We must encourage unique and diverse ways of doing things,[link widoczny dla zalogowanych], realizing this approach is a key to enhancing the entire organizations capacity to adapt and change, in response to the market and the abilities and talents of all stakeholders.
As we encourage diversity of thought, we must continually enhance a strategy of inclusion that supports individual contribution, both in decision-making and in airing dissenting views. This approach allows and encourages everyone in the organization to feel they are an important part of organizational collective success, as well as feeling they have a sense of ownership in the outcome of organizational goals and objectives.
As you develop your personal answers to the questions posed,[link widoczny dla zalogowanych], also develop your personal action plan for how you will demonstrate your beliefs in supporting the value of diversity of thought. In the context of all the questions asked,[link widoczny dla zalogowanych], do you actively seek out, hire and grow people who are different than you? Diversity will only become real to each and every individual as they experience opportunities that enable them to broaden their reach, scope and experience, and see the value their efforts have on the success of the organization. The key to growth and innovation is "Diversity of thought!"
The manageress and a guy behind a till were the only people in the shop and I made my way to the walk-in beer fridge at the back. Over the months they had got to know me well and no doubt had their own thoughts about me. But I was probably one of their best customers so they always treated me politely. They could not have failed to notice the huge amounts of booze that I was buying.As I made my way to the beer fridge the shop assistant appeared out of nowhere and greeted me. "Sawubona," he said. He seemed to stare right into my very soul. I wondered what was he thinking. He sometimes helped me to the car and today would be no different. No doubt I was a shock to him as well. Maybe I was too paranoid. Sure I was gaunt, filthy and sickly-looking but then maybe there were plenty of people like me coming in and out of the bottle store every day. Maybe all that intrigued them was where the money was coming from. That must be a mystery as I looked like a typical down and out. Bugger it. Let them ponder.
The cold beer fridge revived me a little and I always stayed a couple of minutes longer than necessary. I found my beer and asked the assistant to help me carry the case to the till. There I fumbled for the money and handed it over to the guy. He remained silent and passed me the change which I gave to the assistant. He mumbled a quiet "Siyabonga,[link widoczny dla zalogowanych]," and carried the case to the car.I felt that I had no choice any more. The liquor consumed all my mental and physical energy. The people who came and went in my life saw me as a babbling wreck. I comforted myself with the thought that they should see me when I was deprived of my beers.I stopped at the fridge long enough to sink a cold one and then walked into the office. My entrance went unnoticed and only Mary looked up and asked how I was feeling. Plonking myself down, I couldn't fail to notice that it had turned into a lovely day.