Diversity — a term you’ve likely been hearing more and more, both in everyday life and within your organization. Many employers understand the importance of diversity and want to act on it, but do they know how? Diversity is invaluable. Read on to learn why it matters and how to make it work within and for your organization.
Let’s start at the beginning. What does diversity actually mean? According to Van Dale, diversity has the following meanings:
- variety, variation
- the phenomenon of people having different ethnic or cultural backgrounds
In this blog, of course, we are referring to the second meaning: different ethnic or cultural backgrounds within an organization. By diversity, we also mean differences in gender, age, religion, and sexual orientation. With that established, let’s take a closer look. We know what diversity entails, but what does it mean for your employees, your organization, and for you?
Win-win situation
Diversity has many advantages, primarily for your employees. An organization where everyone is accepted is extremely important for the well-being of your people. This is reflected not only in the benefits for your employees but also in your company’s performance. According to research by McKinsey, companies with a diverse workforce are 35% more likely to achieve higher returns than competitors who do not invest in diversity.
Makes recruiting a breeze
A company that actively develops a diverse workforce also reaps the benefits in recruitment. You’re probably wondering why. The answer is actually quite simple. A diverse workforce reflects today’s society: Millennials and Generation Z. It only makes sense that this generation is more likely to choose an organization that aligns with their environment and one they can proudly talk about with their friends.
Employer branding++
That’s a perfect segue to the next advantage. Happy employees tell happy stories—real stories. There is no more powerful way to elevate your employer branding than having ambassadors. After all, we’re more likely to believe a story from a friend than one from “We at WC-eend.” Simple, right?
Risk diversification and increased creativity
Research by McKinsey and various case studies show that a diverse workforce leads to greater creativity and better risk diversification. How is that possible? It’s actually quite logical:
Imagine an organization where only Dutch heterosexual men of middle age work, all sharing the same religious beliefs. Admittedly, somewhat generalized, but there’s a high chance that these employees share the same way of thinking and reinforce each other’s opinions. This is also known as tunnel vision. For an organization, such tunnel vision can even be dangerous. Consider the risks of a decision that no one questioned because they simply followed and trusted each other.
Now imagine an organization where men and women work together, spanning from Generation Z to Baby Boomers, with strong representation from the LGBTQ+ community and a variety of cultures and religious beliefs. You can imagine that these employees bring a wide range of opinions and ideas. This can sometimes create a storm in a teacup, but it can also generate an overload of ideas. In this case, it may even prevent a company from making mistakes, as these diverse perspectives provide critical feedback and multiple viewpoints. In other words: risk diversification.
Do we need to say more? The likelihood that you would prefer the organization from the first example is very small.
Diversity in numbers
Prefer to back it up with facts and figures? Then read all about what diversity can mean for your organization and productivity in the McKinsey study.
Let diversity work (for you)
Simply claiming to be inclusive and haphazardly assembling staff is, of course, not enough. We see many organizations make this mistake. Merely pursuing diversity does not automatically bring benefits as an employer. You need to embody and take it seriously. When all employees feel safe and respected, you’re on the right track. If your organization truly reflects this feeling, we’re not just talking about diversity, but inclusivity.
Are you aiming for more diversity and inclusivity within your organization but don’t know where to start? Recrout is happy to guide you. Schedule a demo and discover which tools can help you in your search for the perfect match.
Want to know more about our vision? Read all about how Recrout makes smart matching technology work for you.
