Pearls of Wisdom

Diversity is all around us. Take a look at any major city. Where I live in Montgomery County, Maryland, there are 37 different languages spoken.

The benefits of diversity are touted by up and coming organizations. Different backgrounds give different and helpful new perspectives on old problems. Yet with all the talk, there are still a ton of problems.

This past week I spoke on a panel at the MBA Leadership Summit hosted by Pitney-Bowes in Stamford, Connecticut. The event, sponsored by the National Society of Hispanic MBAs and the National Black MBA Association addressed the generational and cultural evolution and how diversity played a part in it. I had the privilege to work the panel with Ken Roldan, author of Minority Rules and Jim Huerta, intellectual property expert from ResearchPAYS! Our audience had great questions regarding the role of leaders in bridging the gap both generational and culture differences. My overall reaction is that while progress is made, much work is left to be done.

Diversity, by my definition, means Difference. If you look at it that way, you’ll realize it affects everyone. We’re all different. Diversity isn’t a race issue or an age issue or even a gender issue, it’s a people issue. One concept may solve all the problems - Respect.

See we don’t have to love our co-workers. We don’t even have to like our co-workers. What we have to do, regardless of how we feel about them, is respect them. Respect means that we act professionally. We interact with people in a trustworthy manner. If we do this, we’ll be worthy of trust and respect. So here are 3 steps that will get you started.

1. Respect each others’ background. We’re a product of our environments. Regardless of our beginnings, we have unique factors that shaped who we are. We have a purpose in life that’s built upon our roots. Respecting each other’s background means that we value those experiences others have.

2. Respect each others’ opinions. An opinion is a verbal expression of our perceptions, which are our viewpoints on issues. While you may not agree with them, they may give another angle to see a problem with and lead to a better solution than you could provide.

3. Respect each other. Regardless of anything you may feel or think, human beings are special creations. Our actions may not be perfect and of course human behavior that results in criminal acts is never excusable, but we’re all created in the image of God and therefore, at a minimum, deserve common respect.

This week, take some time to reflect on your own perspective on diversity. Could it be the people around you might offer new solutions to your problems or a better perspective on your opinions? You’ll never know unless you come out of your comfort zone and start up a dialog. You won’t need to look very far - everyone around you with a functioning pulse is your diverse audience. Become an engager of people and you’ll have a better chance of being successful in anything you do!

Have an OUTSTANDING week!
Malcolm

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