Diversity Is An Inside Job

There is nothing better than knowing the leadership of an organization values the people it hired. If the staff and employees are diverse, it makes the responsibilities of the leader even more important.
An effective leader understands their success depends upon their ability to get all the moving parts of the organization working for the same cause. That cause being maximum efficiency and productivity of the employees.
Diversity is an inside job because unless you understand yourself, it will be very difficult to understand people that work for and with you. One of the greatest disservices that exist is the glass ceiling.
Unless women or people of color are given an opportunity to display their gifts and talents, likelihood is an organization will continue to overlook them for leadership roles in the future. On the other hand, organizations that effectively lead their organization excel because they believe and have confidence in the people they hire and know they can perform and are working for the same cause.
Leadership is the sole determinant of the success and or failure of a diversity workforce. While working for a Fortune 500 company, I observed the managers, leadership, board of directors, and CEO of the company to see if it reflected the community it was serving.
In other words, if a multinational company operates a plant in a predominantly minority community and they have a very small percentage of citizens in that city or town working for them, more work needs to be done.
Let us take this issue a step further, if all the managers of the company does not reflect the community that purchases its products, this requires additional change as well.
Diversity is an inside job because the leadership must recognize and value diversity within its operations. Why?
The longevity of the company is at stake if they do not make themselves accountable for making the community viable in the eyes of the citizens who they should be hiring to work for them. Women should be given an equal chance to lead and receive equal pay for equal work.
There is more than enough of the pie to go around, however the sharing of power seems to be the hangup. Unless and until power is shared, companies leave billions fo dollars on the table because they are hoarding opportunity.
During my working days I observed a lot of things that were wrong. I did not turn my back on inequities, rather I worked to prove myself. I know one thing about leadership and it is the fact many people in leadership positions do not possess the moral courage to do the right thing.
Unless and until leaders take off their blinders, they will continue to leave billions on the table. Turn to your diverse staff and work to bring about harmony in the workplace because the job you save may very well be your own.