Buying into Diversity
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| Michelle T Johnson | Diversity Diva | multiculturalism | inclusion | differences in the workplace | |
A recent study said that 38 percent of people would rather see a co-worker fired than take a pay cut themselves. That’s pretty much two out of five people who put their own inconvenience over the potential devastation of another.
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Contributor:
Michelle T. Johnson |
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Looking at the flow of US history it is very easy to say the negative side of discrimination for people, business, and society. There is no hiding the abomination of slavery, the mass importation of and discrimination against the Chinese and other Asian people who built the western railroads, and, among others, the awful treatment of Native Americans and Irish immigrants. Every group of immigrants, and I don't think I am exaggerating, have faced discrimination in this country.
All of those people, individually and as groups, have brought so much value to our society in spite of this discrimination. The richness of our society is built on what all have brought to it and blended into it. Where we fail today is in not recognizing this. This is true for individuals and businesses.
Businesses thrive with diversity because diversity breeds creativity. Diversity also creates channels to diverse markets in both the United States and in export markets. Creativity and marketing channels affect each of us individually through the economic health of our society and indivdual well being assoicated with economic health.
It is foolish of businesses, large, medium, and small, to ignore diversity. They do so at the peril of not earning the best possible return on their investments. I think we all need to extol the value of the creativity diversity brings into organizations. Ask, "what do others not like me bring with them that creates value for my organization?"
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Replies (0)
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Very valuable post. I agree that "Getting people to buy in to the importance of diversity is half the battle..." Where managers and executives move in this direction, they will find a much broader and richer business unit. New ideas and innovation occur more readily where the workforce is more diverse.
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