7 Skills Required For Diversity to Work

There has been no greater time than now to understand and accept the value of diversity. We are all uniquely designed. Sure, there are similarities to be found in each of us, yet what connects us is how diverse we are.

The more we can discover about somebody or something that is different from us, the better we become. While there is an importance to be placed on what constitutes diversity (the definition), a higher importance needs to be placed on how we get there.

In other words, there is more to understanding diversity than simply being respectful through politeness or etiquette (albeit these are important as well).

Here are 8 skills to master so that no matter the scenario you find yourself in, your judgements, reasons, decisions, etc.… will be welcomed and respected by all.

The 7 Skills

Knowing these seven skills is just the start. Mastering them elevates you to becoming an expert in handling a myriad of circumstances. Whether you are an entrepreneur that is solo or has a team, or if you are an employee or employer, these skills are essential.

Leadership – This may seem like a no-brainer however I have found that leadership is more than a position. Leadership is about seeing every person you are accountable for as an asset. Our job as leaders is to develop people, not tell them what to do. Usher in a person to greatness and watch what happens.

Managerial Accountability – Here is where positional authority comes into play. If you are in a managerial role, you have a huge part to play in the diversity conversation. You must learn to regulate situations but more importantly, you will need to recognize when to regulate and how to regulate.

Awareness – This speaks to understanding the value that people bring to the table. Everyone who always agrees with everyone else eventually creates a wedge that, when lodged will do more damage than good. You need differing values to find common ground.

Recognition Behaviors – Here we find that recognizing when people value each other and rewarding that behavior, while being a little “Pavlov’s Dog” like, actually works. Reinforcing good, positive, healthy behaviors (thoughts, words, actions) is crucial to the well-being of people.

Communication – Another ‘no-brainer’ skill on this list, which means that it should be discussed. Communication will solve about 99% of problems. The more we speak, and with greater clarity, the more acceptance we obtain.

We must understand here that acceptance doesn’t automatically equal agreeance. In other words, if you have a different belief system than mine I should be willing to accept that even if I don’t agree with it. This IS the central theme in diversity

Openness – Having an open attitude when it comes to navigating diverse situations remains a critical skill. Being open means that you are willing. Willing to have a discussion. Willing to embrace and hear hard truths. Willing to think outside your own box. Willing to help others. Willing to serve.

Cultural Awareness – gaining knowledge about other cultures, people, orientations, and lifestyles provide leverage. That leverage is understanding the what, why, and how of diversity.

In other words, beginning with behaviors (skills) leads to an attitude (awareness) of diversity practices.

The 7 Attitudes

Now that we have an awareness of the skills needed to make diversity work, lets look at seven attitudes to have towards making diversity work.

Making the Skills Work – Implementing the seven skills and demonstrating them on a daily basis is where the proverbial “rubber meets the road” occurs. Demonstrating how and why we must step outside our comfort zones leads to a fuller experience of diversity. In other words, it’s ok. This requires others to challenge their own assumptions, values, and norms, plus develop an expansive mindset.

Linguistics – Understanding language and how words translate is essential. My favorite example is when Coors (the beer) used the slogan “turn it loose” to market themselves. Translated into Spanish (and if you can speak Spanish you’re already laughing) their slogan was “suffer from diarrhea.” – Enough said there.

Word Choice – Words carry both contextual and emotional meanings. Remember when “sick” used to mean that you weren’t feeling well, and now it means ‘that’s pretty darn rootin-tootin cool.” Our brains default to the literal unless we can’t or are aware.

Labeling - Common cultural assumptions and stereotypes can wreak havoc if not left in check. Labeling (sometimes spoken of as profiling) can perpetuate attributes, responsibilities, or myths about someone that may or may not be true. Oftentimes, they are not true, but it fuels wrong views, values, and vernacular about people.

Avoiding Stereotypes – This needs its own attitude because let’s face it, it is hard not to stereotype certain people or things (like a red car is always stereotyped as someone who is a risk taker and a rule breaker). ?Stereotyping leads to poor assumptions that can be offensive, inappropriate, or simply wrong. It creates separation and unneeded expectations towards others.

Terminology – Knowing what words and phrases can be personally offensive versus which ones aren’t become challenging because it’s subjective. What is to one person may not be to another. The best way is to eliminate them as much as possible (now we can go too far…). For example, even saying someone is ‘militant’ or an ‘activist’ can invoke powerful emotions which could fuel hate or discontent.

Sensitivity – Finally being sensitive to sexism, racism, and discrimination (older workers or people with disabilities) keeps us mindful. In some scenarios using a common term for everyone (saying ‘guys’) may not be correctly received.

Making the move from simply valuing diversity to cultivating its benefits is a huge step in making diversity work. Diversity does not improve with mere kindness or having good intentions. We must take and make competent and conscious actions. The only way to accomplish this successfully is by making diversity a personal responsibility. ?

Whether we are the majority or the minority, by valuing ourselves, building skills, and maintaining awareness we can make every situation, circumstance, event, or season as diverse as it needs to be as authentically as possible.?