Turning Mountains into Molehills: Leveraging Diversity

Consider this situation:

Someone with one arm and someone with two arms, who has one tied behind their back, are each asked to complete a series of tasks. They are given no rules or instructions other than they must each complete the set tasks. It is not a competition. They are each asked to type a one-page document, take a fifteen-pound box downstairs, slice an apple, and put on a necklace with a small clasp.

How do you think about these tasks? What is your first reaction? Do you panic a little or immediately think about methods to adapt the situation? Are their only stairs or is there also an elevator? Is there a cart? Do they ask for help or struggle? Do they work together? Can a nail be but through a board to hold the apple steady? Is there a smaller keyboard that is easier to use with one hand? Do they think of these different strategies? As for the tiny necklace clasp… good luck.

The person who has lived with one arm has most likely learned more adaptive techniques over time. In this situation they may be able to complete all these tasks faster than their counterpart individually because they have a different skill set than the other person. Having one arm does not make them less or weaker, in this case, they may be stronger. Together though, they have two arms and can brainstorm ways to be more efficient. Another person in the room who has both arms free might not have considered the same strategies. What strategies can you think of?

Mountains and Molehills

I grew up as a kid hearing people tell me not to stress out and make little problems into big issues. I was told not to make molehills into mountains. This lesson resonated after I was challenged with new situations in life. I learned perspective is everything.

If you get low to the ground and look at a molehill’s shadow in the late afternoon, it looks like a mountain looming behind it. Alternatively, if you fly over a mountain at 30,000 feet in the early afternoon, the shadow appears small. It looks like a molehill from the right angle.

There are two ways to turn a mountain into a molehill. The first is perspective, rising so far above it that it looks small. The second is physically, tearing it down with tools piece by piece. It is even more effective if you do both. It takes perspective, strategy, tools, and action to overcome big issues. It helps to fist see them as small challenges.

Having a diverse workforce and teaching team members to look at each person’s unique background as an asset to the team increases the overall value of the organization. One person may have one arm and be able to look at the big picture from a higher perspective, they may be able to compare the situation to past situations. Suddenly the big issue becomes a small problem because they have handled more difficult challenges. while another person may have more ideas on the tools needed to implement a strategy. The more diverse the human capital, the more valuable the team.

Physical, racial, gender, age, and socioeconomic diversity in a team are like a bag of trail mix. It is better to have a little bit of everything than just one type of nut. How have you leveraged diversity on your team to overcome mountains?