Diversity calls for corporations to have a wide variation in ideas, perspectives, lifestyles and experiences in their decision making, product design, and service delivery. This means that people with diverse ideas, backgrounds and experiences participate in all jobs and at all levels of the business. Additionally, a diverse company recognizes, respects and utilizes a variety of attributes in its employees. It creates performances through a synergy of diverse ideas and people.
Successful diversity programs have clear goals and mission statements, rewards, innovative tools, strong recruiters, intensive market research and emphasis on orientation and retention. They also have diversity committees or task forces. They respect and value the differences in individuals. The differences are considered useful to the programs and are also considered politically valuable. Political value is important when it comes to public relations. Diversity within attracts the diversity in the market.
With a firm grasp of what Global Diversity is and can be in your business, and what a successful program should include, the following ten factors can be used as building-blocks:
1. Clear and concise definitions of diversity and success. Without clear definition, an objective cannot be created.
2. Implementing clear goals, objectives, and mission statements. Without an objective, there is no direction.
3. Intensive research. Diversity can only be obtained when scope and horizon are broadened. This must be done through research.
4. Implementing a diversity program. Once the objective is in place and research has been done, it is time for the actual work of the project to begin.
5. Recruiting persons to work in the program. A diversity program must have a diverse group of people in order for the program to grow and flourish.
6. Training those recruited. Members of the program must be taught the program objectives so that they can function with confidence.
7. Using innovative tools for orientation and retention. It is imperative that the research that has been conducted is used to educate the members of the program. Differences require different means of educating.
8. Creating a diversity committee or task force. This committee will be an excellent problem-solving group because of their different backgrounds and must excel at using differences for enhancement of the program.
9. Respecting and valuing the differences in all. This is most important for the prosperity of a program. Without respect and value being placed on employees, the very objective of the program ceases to exist.
10. Using diversity politically for enhancement of the business. Diversity as a public relations tool is a sure way to recruit additional members and increase market share.