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Issue
3: May 21, 2001
To our readers:
Why is diversity such a big issue in business today? Because we
are a nation of diverse people thrown together in our work lives,
and the companies that manage that diversity achieve better results
than the companies that do not. Companies that manage diversity
help their employees work together more effectively. People who
work together more effectively are happier, and remain on the
job longer.
It all goes straight to the bottom line. Ernst & Young, a professional-services
firm with a diverse employee pool, reports that its commitment
to diversity has saved the company millions in recruitment and
retention costs since 1997.
People are different in terms of race, gender, age, ethnicity,
socioeconomic background, educational level, and many other characteristics.
A successful diversity initiative will recognize all of these
areas of difference.
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Brief
Tips #3:
Appreciating diversity is the first step in maximizing the potential
in a diverse work force. Some tips for appreciating diversity:
1. Remember that reasonable people can and do differ with each other.
They can hold different opinions about politics, family standards,
how to celebrate holidays, how to address business issues. Granting
others respect as reasonable human beings in spite of these differences
is a first step in appreciating diversity.
2.
Be glad that reasonable people can and do differ with each other.
Frequently these differences lead to business solutions you would
not have developed on your own. Embracing differences, and letting
the differences work for you, is a second step in appreciating diversity.
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3.
Try to learn as much as you can from others. As eminently reasonable
as your standards, mores, and attitudes may be, there is a wealth
of useful information, and many enlightening perspectives, to be
gained from those different from yourself. Listen to those people;
find out what they know that is different from what you know.
4.
Evaluate a new idea based on its merits. It is tempting to dismiss
some ideas as off-the-wall, impractical, or frivolous because of
the employee(s) presenting them. But maybe the fellow from Pakistan
who is just learning to speak English sees an issue in a new light;
maybe the woman who comes from a background diametrically opposed
to your own has detected a solution to a problem; maybe the elderly
woman who taught elementary school for 30 years can teach you something.
Appraise their ideas fully before deciding whether or not they are
good. And then discuss your appraisal with the person who brought
you the idea.
If your company or organization has achieved a milestone in appreciating
diversity, KMA, Inc. would like to hear about it. Please e-mail
Scott Miller at scott@kirkmillerandassoc.com
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