The Powerful Interplay Between Diversity and Perceptions

By: Susan Spale, MBA

Diversity in the workplace has become extremely popular over the last two decades. Most large organizations have diversity training programs in place, often with a requirement that employees attend at least one training session a year. These programs cover topics like gender differences, age discrimination, and racial prejudice--the more traditional diversity areas. However, diversity is much broader--and therefore much more powerful--than just these traditional topics. Diversity is about recognizing, taking the time to learn about, and ultimately valuing differences in others. Those differences can be gender, age, or racial differences, but they can also be differences in work styles, communication styles or even values. Often, it is these differences that pose problems-or create synergy--in the workplace.

Take differences in communication styles as an example. Do you find you just "click" when communicating with some co-workers, but find it difficult to effectively communicate with others? You probably have a similar communication style as those you find easy to talk with, and different styles from those who are a challenge to communicate with. And here is the real diversity challenge: Do you stop to recognize and acknowledge this difference, take the time to learn about the strengths and applications of that different style, and ultimately come to value it? Pay attention to the word value. To truly value something means to treasure and appreciate it greatly. In the workplace, it may seem impossible to think that you will ever treasure a communication style that may be irritating to you. That brings us to the connection with perceptions.

Perception is reality-or so we often hear. The real reality is that we must stop and question our own perceptions from time to time. Go back to the communication styles scenario. Assume you (a more out-going type) are having trouble communicating with a co-worker on your team. What you perceive to be the reason you don't communicate well.

I just can't communicate with John! He's so quiet and never shares his thought and ideas. And when he does say something, he's so pompous!

...may be very different from the truth. Perhaps John is an introvert, who needs be drawn out in business discussions. In fact, he may even find his more extroverted co-workers to be "big mouths" who never give him an opportunity to express himself (his perception!)

However, if you and John were to take the time to question your respective perceptions, and learn more about each other's styles, you may find an incredible synergy between the two of you. You may find that John's more quiet, thoughtful way of approaching problems results in more effective decisions or solutions. And John may discover that your enthusiasm creates more acceptance of a decision or solution. In effect, you begin to value the differences you each bring to the table. You've also brought about better business results by experiencing the powerful interplay between diversity and perceptions.

Until we are willing to question our perceptions, and fully understand the "differences" that seemingly get in the way, we can never experience what it really means to value diversity.