Yes, Diversity Does Increase Competition

Yes, Diversity Does Increase Competition

Instead of lulling employees into complacency with imaginary thoughts that they are automatically better than other workers because "they're not Black," employers must continuously encourage all individuals to upskill, reskill, and cross-skill.

Inspiring excellence in a knowledge economy is challenging work—especially when an anti-Black narrative exacerbates existing stereotypes and biases. In this era, some people are saying the quiet racist part out loud, but that doesn’t make it true.

Merit occurs when there are high standards, written expectations (i.e., job descriptions), regular performance reviews, increased/improved outputs, and competitive stakes. You can't call it "merit" if people are fearful of competing to be the best. Further, winning in "merit" does not entail disparaging the competition simply because of how they look.

Diversity in the workplace fosters innovation, creativity, and competition. When people from different backgrounds bring varied experiences and perspectives, it pushes everyone to perform at a higher level. True inclusion means setting the stage for fair and open competition, where skills, expertise, and contributions—not biased perceptions—determine success.

Do the hard work—encourage excellence with lifelong learning and unfettered competition. Equip managers to give honest feedback instead of letting employees make up stories in their heads. Let the best person win based on their merit, not on outdated prejudices or fabricated superiority.

Companies that embrace this mindset will not only build stronger teams but will also drive greater success in a dynamic and evolving marketplace. It’s time to redefine workplace excellence and commit to fair, competitive environments where diversity is not just a buzzword but a catalyst for progress.