5 Ways to Improve Workplace Diversity

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The world around us changes every day. It is possible to interact with other people on the other side of the globe with only one tap on the screen. And it is possible to sell goods or services anywhere in the world or hire a person from another continent to work for you without them every walking into your office.

But, there are areas which don’t showcase the society we live and work in. Among such cases is workforce diversity, a business issue experienced by many companies, even the most advanced and developed ones. To make your mark in the modern world (and to be viewed as an employer of choice) you need a diverse team.

As you see, these issues are definitely not complicated, which is why tactics for increasing diversity in the workplace can be very handy. Here are five simple strategies that should be fairly simple to implement in your workplace.

Key Takeaways:

• Re-formatting your hiring process to stop following society stereotypes can help include more diversity in your company culture.

• Educating your employees and providing them with real life scenarios can help them become more educated in diversity.

• Respecting and accepting that everyone is different will help them be more creative and motivated to work.

Common Problems From Creating a Diverse Workplace

Because diverse teams usually make better decisions; they are more creative and attentive to your primary goals and customers’ needs. According to McKinsey research diverse businesses deliver 35% better results, than non-diverse ones.

So, if a diverse workforce is a benefit, why are so many companies still not adapting? There are four common problems preventing companies from creating a diverse workforce:

• An instinctive refusal to consider certain ethnic groups for certain roles within the business;

• Lack of prioritization;

• The decision not to hire women in decision-making positions; and

• An old-fashioned workplace culture.

5 Ways to Improve Workplace Diversity

1. Stop Following Society Stereotypes

   In many cases the company executives are to blame for a lack of diversity in the workplace. We often follow different stereotypes which may prevent us from hiring a smart person with excellent skills and experience. Unfortunately, it’s a common trend that male-founded business are less likely to hire women or a minority representative for an executive position because of a low level of trust.

   So, in most cases, we follow society stereotypes. That is why we need to re-format our hiring process, and the first step is banning slate-sitters.

   This is referring to women and minorities who are never getting that job. Try to understand why they are not hired. By doing this, you will find out what people had not been hired because of stereotypes. And in most cases you will be able to find high qualified executives who were ignored because of their gender or race.

Workplace Diversity FAQ

1. What are types of workplace diversity?

   There are seven types of workplace diversity and they include:

   • Cultural diversity

   • Racial diversity

   • Religious diversity

   • Age diversity

   • Sexual orientation

   • Disability

   • Sex/ gender diversity

2. How can diversity benefit the workplace?

   Diversity can benefit the workplace by offering different perspectives to things and increasing creativity. When the workplace is filled with people from different backgrounds, everyone will have a different opinion and can bring a unique perspective to the situation. Since everyone has a different background, there is an opportunity to be more creative with how you come up with a solution to things.

3. Why is diversity in the workplace important?

   Diversity in the workplace is important because it acknowledges an individuals strengths and the potential that they bring to the group. When everyone on a team has the same background and perspectives, they are not reaching their full creative potential which leads to the team not being as effective.

   Diversity helps include more talent, new skills, and different experiences to the workplace making everyone more productive and leads to faster problem-solving.

4. What are the biggest diversity issues in the workplace?

   The biggest diversity issues that are in the workplace are acceptance and respect, accommodations of beliefs, and ethnic and cultural differences. Often times people find it difficult to accept that someone is different from them, especially when it comes to cultural, spiritual, and political beliefs. When employees accept the differences between each other, then it can result in more collaboration and a positive environment.

Author

Matthew Zane