So, the other day I missed my diversity training and because I did so, I received a sternly worded email from human resources reminding me of this, and further explaining that I would need to make this training up at my earliest opportunity. If not, this would go on my official transcript. And, to make sure I received the message loudly and clearly I had a young person from human resources call me to remind me about the value of diversity in organizations. It amused me.
I Reflect Diversity
I’m not making a mockery of diversity. I embrace it. I reflect it. I was doing cultural diversity training before the young person that called me was born. In those early years, I stuck out like a sore thumb. I could be easily found in the national meetings. And during the happy hours, I was the one sitting at a table and enjoying the company of myself. You see, I was the oddity. The minority in the room. I was that guy that they didn’t mean when they told an off-color joke. I was the one, in those earlier years, that they didn’t understand. If I wanted to be included, I had to force my way in, knock down the door, then watch as my colleagues squirmed uncomfortably in their seats, trying their best to understand me.
Diversity Has Come a Long Way
Those were the early years. But folk like me, who looked different and came from diverse backgrounds and cultures, forged ahead. We weren’t discouraged by criticisms, stereotypes, misunderstandings, accusations, discrimination and the like. We learned the rules and how best to play them so that the others coming behind us would have the benefit of a level playing field.
And then one day, it began to change. Diversity became universally accepted. Companies embraced it because it was not only the right thing to do, but the smart and profitable thing. Our workforce began to look more like our customers. The jokes ended. The exclusion seemingly disappeared. And now we find ourselves here.
Embrace Diversity in Your Organization
It’s a good place, where we are. But still, we have work to do. We’re not there yet, but we’re getting there. Our country changes daily and we are getting better at reflecting those changes in our organizations, in our advertising, and in our media campaigns. The focus on diversity must remain, because the United States will continually change. It won’t stop. And neither should we.
Embrace diversity in your organization. It makes so much sense. And, it’s the right thing to do.
