Valuing Diversity!

I grew up in the 60’s. It was a difficult time with cultural, social and economic upheaval. The Wichita business community of the time was white, 35, with dark blue suits and a conservative style. Working and getting along were relatively easy because the players were similar with similar ideas and values. Things would change in a short time and undergo constant change for many years.

At about the same time the Wichita Police Department experimented with a fundamental operational change. At that time a male and female were placed as partners in a patrol car for the first time. Reaction was mixed and a lot of concerns were expressed. Today the same practice is routine and nearly unquestioned. Victims and perpetrators alike were better served with the new practice.

In the ensuing years the value of a diverse workforce has been recognized and appreciated. The diversity comes in many areas: gender, age, race, culture, religion, disability. Over the years the diversity has been resisted, accepted and finally endorsed. The transition has not been without pain. It was much easier in the days when we were all “alike”. Difference has made us work to understand each other. But the resulting benefits have been enormous.

In my classes I’ve often used my marriage as an example of diversity. Any time more than one tries to do something adjustment must be made, After nearly forty-nine years together I must confess I don’t always understand my wife. She would say the same about me. If two people spending that much time together still have adjustment to make think how much more work must be done to understand those differing from us at work, or church, or school.

Working and learning to work with those different from us is hard work. There are many frustrations, starts, and restarts along the way. Casualties happen because some aren’t pliable or flexible enough to make the adjustments. Yet when we work to understand each other our organizations become much stronger. Instead of a restricted, similar view we get views from many backgrounds and perspectives. Our decision processes have more alternatives and our solutions more creative. Each of us draws from our own set of experiences and viewpoints and the organization ultimately becomes the winner.

Understanding the value and importance of diversity is a key quality of diversity. Leadership must take their diverse staffs and mold them together into an effective team. Only then can the organization performance thrive and reach optimum output.
Contact Chuck at: chuck.wright@sckans.edu