Diversity On Its Own Is Not Enough

6 Jul

Written By Oakstone International

The words diversity and inclusion may seem like they go hand in hand, however they mean very different things.

What is diversity?

What is the importance of diversity?

What is inclusion?

Why should you focus on diversity AND inclusion?

Takeaways

What is diversity?

Diversity focuses on the make-up of your workforce. It refers to the differences that make up your team. This can include anything from age, gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, education and national origin. These elements encourage different backgrounds to come together to have diverse thinking, thoughts, beliefs and ideas that can bring unique perspectives to the workplace.

What is the importance of diversity?

McKinsey’s latest report on diversity shows that companies with greater ethnic diversity perform 36% better than those with less diversity. Moreover, companies with greater gender diversity perform 25% better than those with less gender diversity.

What is inclusion?

Inclusion is much harder to define as it is invisible. Inclusion refers to the valuing and respecting of people from all backgrounds and embracing them as unique. Employees must feel valued and appreciated for who they are and what they add to your team, regardless of their backgrounds.

More simply put, it’s being ‘included’.

The critical thing to remember is that diversity does not equal inclusion.

In a previous blog, we touched upon ditching the drinking culture for a more inclusive workplace.

This is a great example of how one cultural activity may not be inclusive for the whole of your team.

Why should you focus on diversity AND inclusion?

With 75% of organisations saying they see diversity and inclusion as a top priority, leaders are switching on to the idea that these qualities really matter. After all, they can bring great rewards to workplaces. Here are four of them.

Greater innovation and more ideas
Diverse teams have more creative power due to the mix of views, skills and backgrounds each person brings to the team. Inclusive environments make people feel comfortable speaking up and sharing their ideas as they feel valued.
More talent
Diversity and inclusion are qualities that many people look for when applying for a job. In fact, 83% of Generation Z job candidates say that a company’s commitment to diversity and inclusion is important when choosing an employer.
Happier employees

Workplaces that promote diversity and inclusion make their employees feel happier and more comfortable. Happier employees are more likely to stay with the company longer, thus, saving you money in recruitment and replacement costs. Businesses can also flourish and meet their full potential when they have the right people on board.

Takeaways

Diversity on its own is not enough
It is essential to not use diversity as a box-ticking exercise just to fill quotas. No matter how diverse your team is – if they don’t feel included, they will never feel comfortable or valued enough to contribute their diverse ideas and experiences.

If you want to encourage people to express their different points of view you need to give them a fair chance at succeeding. Building a sense of belonging will transform your whole work culture.