Diversity in Respect

Respect is the cornerstone of all our intentions and getting along with people is one’s most important career skill. The development of good human relations skills will be explored as a strategy for promoting equity and celebrating diversity in the workplace. Business education students, regardless of career choices, should develop skills to succeed in the diverse environment they will be entering.

What is diversity? When we hear the word diversity we most often think of racial or cultural differences. The true meaning of diversity encompasses much more. R. Roosevelt Thomas, jr. said, “Diversity is the collective mixture of all ways we are different from and similar to each other.” To paraphrase diversity simply means to respect each other’s differences regardless of race, nationality, gender, background, experience, talent or lifestyle.

When I started my current job I had no idea what the word diversity really meant. I assumed that diversity meant having a variety of something, or different types of a like object. According to Encarta diversity means more than what I thought and according to my current employer it’s meaning is the total opposite of what I thought. Encarta’s idea of diversity, which is fairly simple, is as follows:

• Variety: a variety of something such as opinion, color, or style
• Social inclusiveness: ethnic variety, as well as socioeconomic and gender variety, in a group, society, or institution
• Discrepancy: discrepancy, or a difference from what is normal or expected.

The following description is easy to understand and follow, but I had no idea that corporations all over the world had departments dedicated to this one simple word. Since President Johnson uttered the words "affirmative action" more than three decades ago, the impact on America’s workforce is undeniable. The workforce is showing greater ethnic diversity. Learning to appreciate differences is a workplace requirement. The increased use of human relations skills will lead to a much higher quality of life and a more pleasant work environment with less strife or conflict. When people are getting along well with one another a workplace has increased productivity, fewer errors, a positive feeling of team spirit and lower employee turnover.

In today’s changing workplace, the keyword for success is flexibility. Which is the ability to accept new and different skills. When dealing with people from diverse races, religions, genders, national identities, abilities, and ages, it requires an open approach to human relations. In other words, treat others, as you would like to be treated. In most cases companies set the highest business and ethical standards for themselves and their operations, their conduct must reflect a commitment and responsibility to their customers, employees, dealers, suppliers, shareholders, governments and the communities in which we operate. They rely on every employee to maintain a cooperative relationship with his or her fellow worker. This type of relationship requires respect for each other and recognition that every employee is a valuable contributor to the overall success of the organization. In the great words of Sir Winston Churchill, “Diversity is the one true thing we all have in common. Celebrate it every day.”