Mar 23, 2010

The spirit of Diversity!

The demographics of our workplace have changed dramatically. Globalization has impacted all aspects of our lives. Every organisation today looks different from even five years ago - women, people with disabilities or people from far flung places in India or abroad are not a novelty anymore. Organizations in their hunt for talent are eager to have the best, and how and in what form they come is not important anymore. This vast diversity in such close proximity at work is a new experience for corporate India.
Diversity means differences and differences are rife with conflicts. It is easy for groups to disintegrate into cliques and sub-groups based on gender, language, religion or place of origin based on societal norms and influences outside of the organisation.
Our attitudes and behavior are heavily influenced by our own social identities and the identities we perceive of others. It is not so much about us being good or bad as it is about human nature and our own socialization. The good news, however, is that with a little bit of awareness and intention, we can counteract much of this.
People are DIFFERENT. But different doesn’t or shouldn’t mean one is "better" than another. Rather, "the sum is greater than its parts" must apply. Everyone has something to contribute and we must appreciate and leverage that.
Diversity Management is a new area of work in India and promises tremendous potential for the corporate sector.
In this endeavour, I look forward to our readers’ participation. The intent is to provoke public reflection on the issues of diversity and inclusion at work. Through your contributions, we hope to shape this medium to be a resource for senior managers and practitioners to have an open and fruitful dialogue to address the problems as we journey to an inclusive and productive work place. - Nimmi