These days, there are lots of innovative startups that just don’t cut. Many companies have such great offers, a winning business model, and a wise owner to match. But why are there more businesses shutting down?
One thing that could be lacking in an unsuccessful business is the lack of diversity. Despite many campaigns against prejudice, many still have a bias recruitment system. The sooner you start embracing diversity, the sooner you can benefit from them.
But the question is, is there really a need to invest in a diverse workforce?
Why You Need to Start Building a Diverse Team
Diversity matters within an organization for many reasons. Hiring talented people from all walks of life allows you to tap on different talents and experiences. Imagine getting a productivity and creativity boost by simply hiring high-performing diverse employees.
Welcoming diversity allows you to gain fresh perspective and broader ideas. Cultivating diversity is another consumer-magnet. Since today’s consumers consider themselves as from a “more woke society,” it only makes sense to listen to your target audience’s cry to end bias and discrimination within your organization.
How You Can Establish a High-performing Diverse Team
Appreciate Personality Diversity
Many local businesses are guilty of hiring the kinds of people that they think would fit their company’s culture. There is nothing wrong with wanting your employees to be all competitive, hungry for new challenges, and compliant. But then, this is usually when personality bias comes to play.
One should remember that in building a diverse team, it is also a must that we welcome different personalities within the business. When you embrace personality diversity within your organization, you can fill in roles with the right talent. You can even balance your team’s strengths and weaknesses.
If you simply hire people with the same personality, they can easily clash and arguments can ensue. You could be harnessing the strengths of a highly productive team but fail in the creativity department. Maintaining a personality balance will give your business a boost in all departments.
Thankfully, checking the personality trait of applicants is now easy. You only need to find a personality exam for employment during your recruitment process. Some specialized personality questionnaires allow you to customize the parameters so that you can have better control over the test.
Foster Inclusive Behavior Within the Company
Many businesses already embraced a diverse-friendly recruitment process. But these companies often fail to keep the employees who were meant to create diversity due to feelings of exclusivity. If your new hires don’t feel like they belong in the workplace, they won’t last long in your organization.
To ensure they enjoy their stay and will stay loyal to the company, embrace inclusivity within the workplace. This starts with ensuring no discrimination is happening inside the company. Give everyone equal opportunities no matter the topic.
Don’t forget about educating your leaders. They should set a good example instead of leading your employees into discrimination. Offer mandatory training that focuses on inclusion and hold them accountable for the results.
Celebrate employee differences. Find ways to show each employee that you respect their religion, traditions, and backgrounds. Hold events that show you honor each one and ask them how you can best promote inclusiveness in respect of their background.
Give Employees a Safe Place to Report and Address Issues
Some exclusivity in the workplace often goes undetected. Sometimes, this is because the negative people within the organization are subtle about their attacks. Other times, one is already promoting anti-diversity unconsciously.
Give your employees a safe place to report and address discrimination issues. Your Human Resource leaders should be the ones facilitating the safe place. Ensure they don’t have biases or else you will only go back to square one.
With a safe place in place, your employees can voice out their concerns without feeling threatened. You can choose to incorporate regular surveys to know if any discrimination or bias exists within the company. Also, give them a hotline where they can raise their concerns and receive advice on time.
You should already have a solid policy in place that will address exclusivity within the organization. Show your employees that you are serious about the policy. Take action as necessary to boost your employees’ confidence to show them you are serious about making a positive change within the company.
Recognize the fact that great talent does not discriminate. In reality, creating a diverse team is one great way to bring your local business greater success. Stop the bias and discrimination within your business. It is time you start making your mark in terms of welcoming great talents no matter their color, culture, background.
