How can a diverse workplace contribute to success?

A diverse set of skills, perspectives, backgrounds and experiences encourages the development of new ideas and offers multiple alternatives for solving specific problems. Diversity is one of the key drivers of innovation and an important part of building success on a global scale

A great number of companies have discovered that increasing the diversity of their workforce, improves employees performance, making customers happier which definitely contributes to success. A diverse and inclusive work environment is of extreme importance for companies that want to attract top talents as well. With today’s global economy, organizations that are competing for the best employees need to create strategies that will recruit, enhance and maintain a diverse workforce. Furthermore, diverse staffs offer insight and perspective that before might have been absolutely out of reach. This creates an enhanced communication within customers, partners, and a greater advantage against competitors. Top of it all, it surely generates network growth for the company.

Much more can be said concerning the positive effects of diversity on the work floor. However, this article specifically focuses on the benefits of understanding diversity as the first step to success in the workplace.

1. Visible and less visible diversity
A common misunderstanding of diversity is that many believe it’s only based on demographics, such as gender, age or ethnicity; yet, there is so much more to the picture. Diversity with those specific characteristics is called visible diversity which leads to a fast categorization process. However, there is also a form called less visible diversity, such as education, family status and more that are easily overlooked.

Understanding both forms it can exist in and the challenges and benefits that can be presented are of a great importance to success. Exchanging knowledge, obtaining new skills, managers learning from employees and vice versa, creates a less stressful work environment and builds a strong relationship based on mutual appreciation.

2. Tolerance vs. Re-categorization
Quite often, diversity is related with the term “tolerance”, where tolerance is a mind-set that implies non-judgmental acceptance of what is different. However, this acknowledgment does not necessarily indicate understanding or respecting those who must be tolerated. In addition, diversity naturally leads to categorization of creating mental models by putting people in stereotypes. The fundamental idea in how diversity can contribute to success on the work floor is to understand and respect the differences and not only tolerate them. As an outcome, understanding comes with re-categorization.

3. Good management
Using diversity to grow ones success requires good management. To make that possible,  three important aspects needs to be focused on. First, the productive output of the work group should meet the expectations of those who receive or review the product. Second, the social processes used in carrying out assignments should maintain or even improve the ability of the members on their successive tasks as a team as well as keeping the group integrity. Third, the work experience should satisfy rather than frustrate the personal needs and expectations of the work members. This can only be achieved if management recognizes and respects the strength of diversity.

Diverse work teams and work environment are powerful recourses that some companies are not fully acknowledging. Not used in the right way, diversity is more likely to have a negative effect rather than effective one. Thus, only understanding this phenomena and managing it with an open mind can fully boost its potential to contribute to your company’s success.



By: Iva Plocheva