Is Diversity in an Organization Important?

Is diversity in an organization essential and should you as a manager be concerned with variety in hiring?

It depends on what you mean by diversity. If you are talking about having the correct amount of people of a particular race or skin color, then I would say no.

If on the other hand, you mean having a workforce of diverse experiences, knowledge, and skills - then my answer would be yes.

Most of the problems we face in our communities and nation today come out of the division created between people. Most of us believe, whether we acknowledge it or not, that we need to judge and separate ourselves based on color, race, belief system, male/female, straight/gay, gender/non-gender.

We have separated into competing tribes each fighting to maintain their beliefs against the beliefs of other tribes.

I want to highlight a quote from Martin Luther King Jr.:

"I have a dream that my four little children will one day
live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color
of their skin but by the content of their character."

The content of character is how all people should be judged and by nothing else.

What else matters other than a person's character? Are they a good fit for the organization or aren't they? That is all that should matter.

When I interview candidates, I don't see race, creed, color, age, or gender. I ask myself one questions - does this person have the skills, experience, intelligence, and work ethic to be a valuable member of my team? If so, then that is all I care about and need to know.

But the media and society push the message that we need to focus on diversity - meaning we have to focus on race, creed, and gender. None of these things will tell you the type of character a person possesses. And none of these characteristics by themselves will bring benefit to the world or the workplace.

If we are to come together to accomplish anything in life, we have to quit judging people on superficial standards and get to the heart of the matter - the center of the person.

We need to see an individual and what they have to offer not what group to which they belong.

The diversity of experience is the essential type of difference and the only one that makes the world a better place.

If you agree or disagree with my opinion, I would love to hear what you think. Leave a comment below and let's start a conversation on this critical management topic.