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The Importance Of Diversity In The Workplace

By | Dr. Towanna Burrous | President of CoachDiversity Institute

There’s a concept in ecology called the “edge effect.” It describes the area in a naturally occurring landscape,where two or more distinct habitats — such as a mountain range and a riverbed — intersect.Consequently, it is at the intersectionsof these contrasting regionswhere the most plant and animal biodiversity occurs. This diversity is important in nature. It ensures plants and animals continue to adapt, survive and thrive.

Like nature, the modern workplace thrives on diversity. Employees of diverse backgrounds, genders, ages, ethnicitiesand life experiences can bringa wealth of ideas to group projects and corporate initiatives. Thiscan resultin more innovative solutions to business challenges. It is also why teams comprised of diverse members tend tomake better decisions — and make them more quickly — than individual decision-makers.

Unfortunately, however, many businesses are not taking full advantage of the opportunities that employing a diverse workforce can offer. Perhaps there’s a comfort level to hiring and working with people who look, act and talk the same as you. Maybe a team is trying too hard to replace a retiring co-worker with someone who has the exact same skill set. Sure, there are benefits to hiring a known entity, but there could be even more benefits when you introduce a new set of skills and experiences to the group dynamic.

Read the accompanying resource to learn more about the benefits of employing a diverse workforce.

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This infographic was created by CoachDiversity Institute, diversity coaching certification


AUTHOR BIO:

Dr. Towanna Burrous is President of CoachDiversity Institute and a best-selling author, trainer and ICF Professional Certified Coach based in Washington, D.C. As a highly sought-after executive coach, Burrous’ mission is to empower diverse communities through executive coaching.

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