This is a timely rerun of this editorial, particularly with the events that have taken place in Charlottesville recently. We have to understand the difference between
- Diversity
- Inclusivity - Removal of barriers that prevent participation
The latter can be a barrier to the former.
There are many facets to diversity, some of which are easy to overlook. I've certainly found it true that a diverse set of people bring a variety of viewpoints and with it a range of solutions that I probably would not have considered otherwise. I also think it is wise to consider the diversity of your customers. If you have a customer who has facets of diversity different from you, do you understand that customer and their needs in relation to the goods or service you are paid to offer?
The saying "Blood is thicker than water" is a contraction of a saying and consequently is often taken to mean the precise opposite of what it actually means. the full saying is something like "The blood of the covenant is thicker than the water of the womb". If you put a diverse team together with a common goal then their diversity will quickly become a non-issue. To my mind this is an effective diversity policy.
I have twice been in companies that encountered problems by basing hiring decisions on "family and friends" first. In one company the person should have been axed quickly but because he was an old chum of the MD he hung around for a couple of years. When the MD left he jumped ship a couple of weeks later missing the redundancy payment the new MD was planning. Hiring has to be based on ability!