It is very important to support diversity and inclusion in your workplace environment. But before you do so, it is imperative to understand what these two terms stand for and why they are so vital to success in any modern corporate environment.
What is Workplace Diversity and How Can it Help Increase Innovation in An Organization?
Workplace diversity may be defined as accepting, understanding, and valuing the differences between various staff members working in the same organization. Some of the core features of a diverse work environment include the following:
- People belonging to different ethnicities, races, genders, religions, ages, disabilities, and sexual orientations work together to achieve the common objectives of the whole company
- People who work in the same organization but with vast differences in personalities, education, experiences, skill sets, and knowledge bases utilize their diverse talents to work towards the same goals
However, it is important to note that diversity is not always perceived in the same way by people belonging to different generations. For instance, millennials view workplace diversity as the intrinsic combining of different experiences, backgrounds, and perspectives, and they firmly believe that innovation is possible only when the organization takes advantage of all these differences. In other words, the synergy created by so many diverse opinions can come up with ‘out-of-the-box solutions’. And the higher the level of innovation, the greater the chance of cutting out the competition and becoming a market leader.
Gen-Xers and Baby Boomers, on the other hand, tend to see workplace diversity from an entirely different viewpoint. They see it as equal and fair representation of all individuals, regardless of their backgrounds.
What is Inclusion?
Inclusion may be defined as a supportive, collaborative, and respectful environment that also increases the overall participation and contribution levels of all employees. Basically, it inculcates a sense of belonging. An organization with an inclusive culture makes its employees feel respected and valued for who they are— both as a cohesive group as well as individuals. When individuals feel a certain level of commitment and supportive energy from others around them, they try to reciprocate by doing their level best.
The process of inclusion involves the active engagement of each and every individual, regardless of his or her rank. The core purpose is to make people feel valued so that they become aware of the fact that they are absolutely essential to the overall success of the organization. When people feel more valued, they are able to function at full capacity and are willing to contribute more to the organization. This paradigm culture shift essentially creates higher performing organizations, where morale and motivation soar to dizzying heights.
Diversity and Inclusion Combined
Diversity and inclusion may be defined as a company’s strategies, mission, and practices that have been initiated to support a diverse workplace and also leverage its effects in order to achieve a ‘competitive business advantage’ in the industry.
Conclusion
In light of the above, we can see that diversity and inclusion together can create the kind of synergy and dynamism that can propel the company towards a market leadership position in its chosen field.