The Key To an Innovative Workplace? Having a Diverse Group of Thinkers

As humans, it’s in our nature to look for recognizable patterns - including in other people. If we identify with someone in some way, we naturally gravitate towards them. Working with like-minded individuals has a lot of advantages - you understand each other better and may be able to communicate more efficiently. You might even be more empathetic and patient with them.?

But here’s the catch.

When there’s a lot of like-minded thinkers in a room, it can get a little monochromatic. If everyone tackles a project in a similar way or regards an issue through one, unilaterally specific lens…eventually, that work may start to feel stale.?

The truth is, all workplaces benefit from a team of diverse thinkers instead of a gaggle of like-minded individuals - and here’s why.

First off, a diverse team brings with them a variety of perspectives. When an employee’s background and set of experiences is unlike that of their co-workers, they bring differing viewpoints to the table. This might sound messy on paper but in practice, this is where creativity is born! When your team is diverse, they force one another to see things in ways they wouldn’t typically. This fosters innovative thinking, new ideas, and out-of-the-box solutions.?

Side note: Learning how to get along with someone who has different views or working styles than you? Be patient, stay respectful and attentive, and exercise those empathy muscles. This is an essential skill to building a successful career and life.

Higher rates of diversity and inclusion can also lead to better decision making. Recent research from the last decade proves that increasing workplace diversity can lead to being 35% more likely to have financial returns above normal.

Why?

People from diverse backgrounds are more likely to focus on facts and process them more carefully. It makes sense - when more perspectives are considered, the decision-making process will probably be more thorough and less prone to bias.

When a group of different thinkers works together, they are going to be more creative when it comes to problem solving. They may all regard an issue in a different way, which causes them to explore multiple solutions and consider options that could otherwise go overlooked.

For example, if your client’s recently launched ad campaign isn't doing as well as expected, the members of your diverse advertising team will reassess differently. One female employee may think about it from the audience’s point of view and decide the ad needs a more gender-neutral message. Another may suggest they increase scheduled ads in the part of town they live in, because they know there’s a higher population of their target demographic in that neighbourhood. In summation, your team will bring their own lived experiences to the table, which is a major strength!

A diverse workforce is important because it accurately reflects our diverse world. How does this benefit business? With a broader market understanding, a company is better equipped to serve and understand the needs of their diverse customer base and reduce any overlooked messaging. Employees with different cultural and experiential backgrounds can offer valuable insight, helping business make their services or products more accessible to new customer pools.?

Diversity is a sought after quality for many reasons and can actually boost your company’s ability to attract top talent. In addition, prioritizing diversity has been found to improve employee engagement and retention. In a space where everyone feels valued and respected, there tends to be higher rates of morale, engagement, and job satisfaction.?

Innovation is inevitable when a group of people with varied experience and expertise work together. Plus, diverse workplaces help to challenge assumptions and make spaces more welcoming and open-minded.? A cross-pollination of ideas can spark new concepts in unexpected ways - and that’s when teams make massive breakthroughs and become industry trailblazers.

All in all, we all benefit when everyone has a seat at the table.

We work with teams to help them assess varied viewpoints and understand the strengths of their own perspective and the perspectives of their peers. Interested in running a workshop like this? Get in touch with us today to book your workshop for 2025!