Through the Eyes of Om - #Diversity

Forget for a moment about everything you are hearing or reading about in the news. Think instead of the different layers & complexities of society as you know them. Set your mind to this task, and come away with one question to ask at the end.

How will I improve my approach to diversity in order to foster opportunities rather than challenges?

Think for a moment about that question...I mean really think. Recall for a moment, a time when you were younger and what your friends in grade school were like, in high school, in university (if you chose to attend), your first job, today in your social network, etc. Do the people you interact with even today challenge you (and you them) in providing challenges as well as opportunities for growth? How do you react when exposed to circumstances that challenge your own knowledge or perspective of how things should be or should end up? What would you like to do better the next time you are in a charged situation?

First you should think about diversity itself. It is not simply race, gender, geography or most trending nowadays, age (hello generations). Think about education and upbringing (culture included), values, goals, informational interpretation, experiences, etc. These can all contribute to how both individuals as well as teams can interact, challenge one another and ultimately attain success. These different perspectives, points of view and backgrounds of thought can all result in more strategic and ultimately improved growth at the end of the day. But it does not come easy, and it certainly does not come often...but it can always be improved upon. Most importantly, you must remove your own resistance to change, you must in fact embrace it. Here are a few thoughts on how you can approach this:

1.   Empower teams to work on strategic issues - when you share the vision of where as an organization you want to me, imagine how powerful it is to have your people working on the critical issues to design and even implement solutions.

2.   Expose them to a variety of situations - we've all heard of trial by fire, but perhaps think of these learning and training scenarios in which you truly see how your team can operate in both stressful as well as not so stressful situations.

3.   Mentor and nurture their growth - there are so many things that can be said about training your people and coaching them on best practices. This applies across all departments, at all levels and in more than just the professional setting.

“We need to help students and parents cherish and preserve the ethnic and cultural diversity that nourishes and strengthens this community - and this nation.”

-Cesar Chavez

Each individual and/or team doesn't always have to be one color, or one shape, or even fit together in perfect harmony. You should be willing to accept different shapes, backgrounds, ideas, personalities, etc. Just like this journey of self-development and tolerance for one another, it is our diversity that makes each interaction completely unique with one another. Remember that the next time you are reflecting on the dynamics that you have created. More importantly, work to develop and foster dynamics from this day forward that will foster productive engagement for everyone.

-Om