Evolving Definition of Diversity

I took the cover photo a few years ago when I was visiting San Diego. Designed by artist Niki de St. Phalle who spent the final years of her life in San Diego, the Coming Together Statue is a ceramic and mirror mosaic public artwork. The artist once explained that Coming Together represents the essential duality in human beings. The two sides of the composite face have several notable differences. One side is black and white, the other has a range of bright colors. One side is jagged and angular, the other is smooth and curved. One half of the face has long hair, the other half doesn’t. The duality includes joy and darkness, and the masculine and the feminine. The photo made me reflect on diversity and inclusion in today’s business world.

In a previous post, I discussed the inherent bias which could affect how we manage people and make decisions. Recognizing the patterns of our own behavior, being more aware of our own biases, and developing plans that make the most of the talents and abilities of the team members are important leadership behavior we need to foster in today’s work environment.

It is notable that the definition of diversity has evolved over the years from affirmative action based on racial statistics and quotas, to diversity as a business necessity, to inclusiveness of people with varying background, to the current focus on working environment to foster different opinions and allow teams to excel. Increasingly, both the global nature of businesses and generational gaps in work places are also bringing new dimensions in this conversation. In other words, diversity has evolved from a moral and legal obligation in the US work place to an imperative for business to excel in today’s global environment.

From employer perspective, we have to fundamentally recognize that in order to treat some persons equally, we must treat them differently. One telling illustration is the different view on diversity for the millennial. They view diversity as the blending of different backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives within a team. They also use the word to describe the combination of these unique traits to overcome challenges and achieve business goals. Millennials view diversity as a necessary element for innovation, and are much more likely to focus on teamwork. More important than never before, leadership at such an organization needs to be transparent, communicative, and engaging.

From employee perspective, we all want to be treated fairly and respectfully, to have equal access to opportunities and resources, and contribute fully to the organization’s success. We also want to feel included, which comes when employees (at any level) take conscious action to hire, work with, coach, guide, develop, relate, promote and retain employees who represent the wide variety of diversity shown in the image above.

In the end, diversity is really not just about your color, or gender, or preferences. It's about the unique contributions ONLY YOU can bring to the organization in today’s dynamic global economy.

Related Articles

Office Temperature, System Bias, and Diversity (9/16/2017)

Share our Similarities, Respect our Differences (5/12/2018)

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