5 advantages of a diverse workplace no one is talking about

Published date12 November 2018
Pages305-306
Date12 November 2018
DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1108/SHR-11-2018-151
AuthorJim Morris
Subject MatterHR & organizational behaviour,Employee behaviour
Strategic commentary
5 advantages of a diverse workplace no one
is talking about
Jim Morris
It’s easy to focus on the more
obvious advantages of a diverse
workplace: cutting costs, for
example, or the pride thatcomes from
showcasing diversity as one of your
organization’s strengths.But there are
many not-so-obvious advantagesas
well, which are rooted in the emotional
transformation that occurs when
individuals participate in diversity
initiatives, take part in awareness
exercises and fully embrace diversity
and inclusion within their organization.
The advantages listed belowwill only
become more important as millennials
and Gen-Z increasingly move into
leadership positions and lookto work
for companies that prioritize diversity
and inclusion.
1. Employees learn to use their
head and their heart
Many people experience an
unexpected side effect when they
embrace the chance to become
aware of their unconscious bias: their
interpersonal relationshipsimprove.
By engaging in conversations around
diversity, we tap into an emotional
vulnerability that carries overinto
familial and romantic relationshipsas
well. Becoming aware of what you
don’t know can be an emotionally
freeing experience, both at work and
at home. One participant reported:
“As a husband and father, it allowed
me to better ‘listen to understand’ and
lean-in to my vulnerability as a means
of strength”.
2. Employee engagement
Thanks to embracing diversity
initiatives, one CEO says his
organization “truly learnedhow to fully
engage each individual,” while
another business leader says a
diverse workplace gives them the
opportunity to “work with others from
different organizations,and get to
know colleagues in richer, deeper
ways.” Diverse workplaces
necessitate profound and sometimes
difficult conversations between
employees who are given
opportunities to be aware of
unconscious biases and actively
listen to others. Deep engagement
between employees leads to
improved job satisfaction and deeper
engagement with the company.
3. Increased innovation
Creativity and innovation relyon
having an open mind and the ability to
approach an issue from different
perspectives. Therefore,a workplace
that encourages diversity not just of
race, gender and culture but also of
thought, will inevitably foster more
innovation. The connection between
diversity and innovation has been
proven. Rockwell Automation is one
organization that understoodthat to
continue providing innovative
solutions to meet customer needs, it
had to attract, engage and leverage a
wider range of talent, which is why it
began looking to improve diversity
and inclusion efforts. As a result, the
Jim Morris is Chief Consulting Officer
at WMFDP, Portland, Oregon, USA.
DOI 10.1108/SHR-11-2018-151 VOL. 17 NO. 6 2018, pp. 305-306, ©Emerald Publishing Limited, ISSN 1475-4398 jSTRATEGIC HR REVIEW jPAGE 305

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