Black buying power in the United States was estimated at $304 billion nationally in 1990, rising to $469 billion last year, up by 54.2 percent in seven years-a compound annual growth rate of 6.4 percent. -Dr. Jeffrey Humphreys, Selig Center for Economic Growth, Black Buying Power by Place of Residence: 1990-1997.
Understanding Diversity
What does all this mean to employers and managers?
The number of white males in the labor pool is decreasing. More women, African-Americans, Hispanics, gays and lesbians, disabled people, Generation Xers and baby boomers are in the work force. Managers and employees need to know how to interact with people from various backgrounds to be productive and competitive in the global marketplace. Especially in service organizations, where customers and patients are also from diverse backgrounds, employees must understand and value differences in other people.
Diversity is defined as the vast array of physical, social and cultural differences that make up the spectrum of human beings. The issue is more than having or creating a tolerance for diversity. It has now become a competitive business need as well as a continued moral issue of showing respect for all people.
Many companies have written diversity statements outlining their commitment to foster and build a culture in which diversity is valued. Employee teamwork and productivity are encouraged and supported among talented people who are diverse in age, education, ethnic origin, gender, lifestyle, physical abilities, race, religious belief, sexual orientation and other perceived differences.
Workplace Efforts
Companies are starting to require diversity training for all their employees. Sometimes this training can be very sensitive, but companies have benefited from the training. Awareness training can help eliminate stereotyping, harassment, racism, put-downs or other forms of a non-inclusive behavior in the work environment. Not only is harassing behavior disrespectful, it is also illegal.
I have recently designed a training program for elementary school-age children called "Respect at School." The corporate version is called "Creating a Harassment Free Workplace." I have found that stereotyping is occurring as early as pre-school-age and starts to become obvious in second and third grades. Unfortunately the "fruit doesn't fall very far from the tree," and some school districts are requesting parent diversity training sessions.
Companies have also created and supported resource groups for African-American, Hispanic, disabled, Native American, gay and lesbian employees. In addition to helping their members acquire skills needed for success, resource groups sponsor special events and attend coalition meetings with company leaders.
Valuing Diversity
The richness of a diverse work force creates opportunities. Over the years, we have come to confuse "equal" with "same," devaluing our differences. Learning acceptance and inclusiveness does not mean abandoning one's own basic beliefs. Imagine how boring and unproductive a company--or this nation--would be if we all thought, behaved, dressed and communicated the same way.
America has been labeled a large melting pot. This could be defined as differences melting together to create a sameness, which does not value differences. Instead we should think of America as a huge tossed salad with many different ingredients, each providing value to the taste and appearance of the salad.
Motivational speaker Gene Griessman says it well: "I believe that diversity brings new solutions to an ever-changing environment. And that sameness is not only uninteresting but limiting."
Valuing diversity requires two things: respect and listening. Respect is our willingness to confront ideas without insulting people. Listening is the intent to understand rather than to simply argue.
Management Tools
How do you as a manager create an inclusive culture and not just give lip service to valuing diversity?
In addition to creating a diversity vision statement and developing diversity training, here are some other helpful management tools: