Diversity in the Workplace

Learn to Embrace the Tension of Diversity, Marshall Goldsmith

Kris Nolt, Adam Peace, Mike Perhosky, Andrew Schommer

Article Background• Harvard Business Review

• Learn to Embrace the Tension of Diversity• Dr. Marshall Goldsmith• UCLA PH.D • The (London) Times and Forbes

recognized as one of most influential business thinkers in the world

• AMA one of 50 great thinkers and leaders who have influenced the field of management

• Institute of Management Studies Lifetime Achievement Award

• Advisor to over 120 major CEOs• Teaches executive education at

Dartmouth’s Tuck School• Milling Selling Author

Learning to Embrace Diversity

•Differences can help build great organizations•Double-edge sword•Identifying, recruiting and training diversity

Diversity Tension• Stress and strain that accompanies mixtures of

similarities and differences• Do not minimize the tension• Understand others without judging• Leaders must spread throughout the organization

Diversity Summary• Today’s

workforce/marketplace is a mosaic of skills, lifestyles, religions, ethnic groups, genders, and ages

• The workforce and marketplace is changing and we must change with it if we are to succeed.

• Dimensions of Diversity

Competitive Advantage of Diversity

• Diverse groups bring different talents and perspectives to a sport organization which results in a creative advantage

• Changes in the domestic consumer market: Demand products to meet needs, tastes and lifestyles. Need better and more effective marketing strategies.

• Reduces costs of absenteeism and turnover through increased job satisfaction through higher employee morale

Trends in the WorkforceoRace and Ethnicity: More people of color in the workforce.oAge: More older people in the workforceoGender: More women workingoSexual Orientation: Gays and Lesbians become more visibleoAge: People with differing physical and mental abilities

Hostile Work Environment•Hostile Work Environment: Targeting, trivializing or demeaning individuals•Race, religion, national origin, political affiliation, age, disability, sexual orientation, physical appearance, pregnancy•Exclusion of one group by another – trying to make the work atmosphere more difficult because they would rather not have them around.

Three Diversity ParadigmsGOLDEN RULE: Treat others as you would like to be treated. Comes from the bible. Value all differences: Conscious of what makes us different. Understand how specific minority groups have been disadvantaged and the causes of this discrimination. OLD PARADIGM: success from standardization, diversity is a cost, rules shaped by senior executives, emphasis on masculine values, change to suit the organization’s culture.NEW PARADIGM: Success from individual contribution, diversity is a competitive advantage, rules to satisfy customers and employees, feminine values are important, modify culture to meet employee needs.

How the Article Applies Diversity

• Relieves tension between differing groups • Part of the New Diversity paradigm and Golden Rule• Embracing tension helps destroy a hostile work environment• Effectively dealing with differences leads to increased productivity

Wrap Up• Diversity Tension• Competitive Advantage• Workforce Trends• Hostile Work Environment• Work Trends•Diversity Paradigms