The Importance of Diversity in the workplace

If everyone on your team was from the same background, a similar age or gender, they would most likely have similar ways of thinking. A diverse workforce will bring different ideas and new ways of thinking to the team. This can be great for solving various situations, offering more tailored support to clients or customers and coming up with different approaches for certain tasks.

Supporting diversity opens you up to a bigger talent pool. If you are recruiting with a strict set of criteria in mind, you would be losing out on talented candidates. By widening the search and embracing diversity, you could find your perfect recruit.

A diverse workforce can also add to your employer brand and company culture. Today’s professionals appreciate diversification and want to work for exciting, forward thinking companies. By creating this kind of workforce, you can attract talented candidates, as well as retain existing members of staff who are glad to be part of an exciting company.

There are several ways you can implement diversity within your organisation, here are a few things you can do if you are not already.

Company Culture

Create a culture where staff are always encouraged to be themselves. It’s likely that everyone has a more professional persona when they’re at work, but it’s important that no one feel repressed. Depending on the nature of your business, you might even allow casual dress days to allow people to express themselves and create a slightly more relaxed vibe within the office.  

Encourage staff to share ideas

No matter what role they play in the business, it’s always great to hear when someone has a new idea. Create a culture of sharing, where employees are encouraged to come forward with any ideas they may have, and where everyone works together as a team to make these ideas a reality. As previously mentioned, diversity will lead to higher levels of creative thinking.

Always encourage employees to share their ideas by organising regular team and company meetings. It could open your eyes to possibilities and resolutions you hadn’t considered before and in return this will make employees feel valued and respected.

Keep an open mind

Ensure you keep an open mind when hiring so you do not risk shutting yourself off from great candidates. Instead, be willing to meet with people you might not have previously considered – you might find your perfect candidate this way!

Team-building

To make sure you’re getting the most from your workforce is to ensure that staff are working as a team. Team building exercises are a great tool for employees to get to know each other and encourage them to celebrate their differences and work better together.

There are so many benefits for embracing diversity in your business. By making it a part of your values and culture, encouraging employees to be themselves, share their ideas and support one another. This will not only help you to attract and recruit, but also retain an innovative and diverse workforce.