To tell this story, I must first admit that I watch The Talk. [sigh] There it is. Now you know.
On Monday’s show, The Talk’s co-host panel talked about Sunday night’s Academy Awards show and host Chris Rock’s comedic take on racism in Hollywood and the film industry. As the old saying goes, things said in jest are often said best. Hopefully, you know that there was much conversation leading up to the awards show due to the fact that for the second year in a row, only white actors were nominated for the lead and supporting actor/actress roles.
As the conversation on The Talk wound down, co-host Aisha Tyler interjected that she quickly wanted to add one more comment. She said something along the lines of:
Diversity is not just black and white. It’s also Asian, Hispanic and other nationalities.
Yes, that is true. But, diversity is really so much more. And inclusion, active inclusion, must be part of the conversation.
Diversity is also about gender. Inviting and welcoming both men and women to the table. They have different points of view, different experiences, different insights. Having both men and women as part of a decision process, an executive team or a project launch can make a world of difference in the quality and impact of the plan. And, don’t overlook those in transition or who identify as non-binary. My personal experience speaking with a non-binary gender team member last summer was both heart and mind opening, for sure.
Diversity is also about ability, both physical and otherwise. I had a team member several years ago who was wheelchair-bound due to muscular dystrophy. She was not only an excellent worker, but an incredible person. She taught all of us so much about gratitude, overcoming challenges, and living a positive life. Her inclusion on our team made all of us better human beings, better team members and better employees. She helped all of us see the world through very different eyes.
Diversity is also about cultural background. If we want to have a global view and a broad impact, we cannot look at the world through a single cultural lens. Cultural norms, experiences and traditions are fertile grounds for creating and growing a sense of understanding and appreciation.
Diversity is also about generational experiences. We learn not only from the generations that come before us but also the ones that came after us. Labels can be challenging, but give me a solid Baby Boomer and an amazing Millennial and we’ll make magic happen. Members of different generations can learn so much from each other’s experiences and with each other in their own unique ways.
Diversity is also about thought and beliefs and orientation. If everyone on a team believes the same thing, handles relationships in the same way, and are expert in the same area, they will soon trip over their own limitations. However, bring together a team with different areas of expertise and different views on life, religion, and culture and you have a recipe for genius to happen.
Inclusion is about appreciating the value of diversity and taking steps to incorporate diversity into an organization’s activities.
It’s not enough to bring different people to the table. We need to invite them to speak. We need to listen to what they say. We need to consider the alternate points of view. We need to reflect on different paths. We need to value the richness of a conversation in which everyone is not saying the same thing.
Is diversity about black and white? Yes, and so much more. It’s about all the differences named above…and others. Most importantly, diversity without inclusion is meaningless. As you look around, what so you see? I hope you will welcome diversity of all types and create the opportunity for active inclusion. Your organization and your community will be better for it.
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To learn more about diversity and inclusion, explore The National Diversity Council website. There are also several state councils, including one here in my state of Ohio. Full disclosure…I am a member of the Ohio Council Board of Directors. If I can help your team understand and appreciate the value of diversity and inclusion, contact me and let’s talk.
