1. Diversity in the workplace
“Harnessing the diversity of thought”
Rob Estell LSCSW
The University of Kansas for

2. Today’s Agenda What is Diversity Why Diversity? (Best Practice)
Macro to Micro (global)
Dimensions of Diversity
ABC’s OF Self Awareness
Strength Perspective
Harnessing the Diversity of Thought

3. Learning Objectives After this class you will:
Understand and be able to articulate the business case for diversity
Be able to use a variety of tools/methods to work effectively with a diverse workforce.

4. What is Diversity? Inclusive of all groups Eliminates discrimination
EEO
Affirmative Action
Inclusive of all groups
Eliminates discrimination
Targets underutilized groups
Maximizes the potential of all employees
Provides equal access opportunity
Measures good faith efforts for minorities and women
Broader than ethnicity, race, and gender
No one is excluded from participation.
Helps to prevent discrimination
Not legally mandated
Legally mandated
Grounded in individuality
Grounded in assimilation
Change the system or operation
Change the mix of people
Equality
Preference
Focuses on all elements of diversity
Focuses on race, gender, and ethnicity
Diversity is broader than affirmative action and is voluntary (i.e., it is not "strictly necessary" to incorporate diversity concepts in order to meet federal requirements
Table 1: Differences between Diversity, EEO, and Affirmative Action

5. Something to think about…
57 Asians,
21 Europeans,
14 people from the Western Hemisphere (north and south,)
8 Africans.
52 would be female
48 would be male
70 would be non-white and 30 white
70 would be non-Christian, 30 would be Christian
89 would be heterosexual, 11 homosexual
59% of the entire world’s wealth would be in the hands of only 6 people and all 6 would be citizens of the United States.
80 would live in substandard housing
70 would be unable to read
50 would suffer from malnutrition
One would be near death; one would be near birth
Only one would have a college education
One would own a computer.
When one considers our world from such a compressed perspective, the need for both acceptance and understanding becomes very evident.
If we could shrink the earth’s population to a
village of precisely
100 people,
with all the existing
human ratios remaining the same, it would look
something like this
Globalization has come to stay and with it its advantages and disadvantages.
Domestic and International

6. The Changing Market Women African-American market
By 2010, women are expected to control $1 trillion, or 60% of the country’s wealth.
African-American market
Estimated $723 billion in purchasing power, growing by 127% between 1990 and 2003
Hispanic/Latino market
Purchasing power in the U.S. is $686 billion and projected to reach $1 trillion by 2010.
Asian American market
Buying power is estimated at $400 billion
Native American market
$48 billion in discretionary spending power
People with Disabilities
$220 billion in discretionary spending power
GLBT market
Total buying power of the U.S. gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender adult population is estimated to be $641 billion.
Traditionalist/Baby Boomer market
$1.7 trillion in buying power; accounts for 50% of all discretionary income.
Our clients and colleagues
Contracts?

7. Drivers for diversity and equality in the workplace1 2 3 4 5
THINK
THEY
ARE A FIVE
THEY
HAVE TO DO
GOODERS
EQUITABLE
SYSTEMS
BUSINESS
REASONS
TRANSITION
A closer luck at who we are and where we are going
0 = clueless/homogenous-group thinking
1 = affirmative action eeo stuff / diversity is all the same (it’s a bad word that’s not about me)
2 = understand and celebrate THE VALUE diversity
3 = created a statement of diversity/TEAM –
4 = realize there's more to diversity and it makes business sense EDUCATE STAFF/MANAGING DIFFERENCE
5 = cashing in
Level
Playing
Field
No problem
Here!
Legislated
fairness
Good
Corporate
Citizens
Vision of
Becoming
a 5
Ultimate
Goal

8. The bottom line…
As shown on the previous screen, there are many reasons why an organization might/ should focus on Diversity.
Usually, these fall under two broad themes: the Values Case and the Business Case.
Both the Values Case and the Business Case are important and necessary; they do not contradict each other, but rather complement each other.
Values Case
Business Case
“It’s the right thing to do, and will make our people happier.”
“It’s the smart thing to do, and will improve our bottom line.”
©SHRM 2008

9. Dimensions of Diversity
Are we getting Diversity wrong?
Assumptions? But lets truly understand diversity before we can celebrate differences why is culture important.

10. Diversity off Thought All parts that influence a culture
"Personality", the dimension which constitutes the core of this model, covers all aspects of a person that may be classified as “personal style”.
"Internal dimensions " or "core dimensions" are considered to be dimensions that may not be easily changed by individuals and are thus taken into account by the relevant equal treatment acts.
"External dimensions" are characterized by their variableness. "Religion" or "worldview" are exceptions, which is why they are highlighted. They could be regarded as “internal dimensions“ for two reasons: Firstly, religion and worldview cannot always be chosen freely and secondly, discrimination as a result thereof is legally forbidden.
"Organizational dimensions" are defined by corporate or institutional affiliation.
Diversity off Thought

11. Diversity awareness is NOT about changing who you are
Self Awareness
Knowing who you are,
your own cultural assumptions, and perspectives
Awareness of Others
Learning about others, recognizing
similarities and differences
Interpersonal Dynamics
Interacting with and managing those who are
like you and those
who are different in ways
that are effective and respectful

12. Self Awareness ABC’s of Thinking

13. ATTITUDES or CONDITIONAL BELIEF
Triggers Automatic Reaction
Thought A B C
ATTITUDE = POSITIVE OUTCOMES
CONDITIONAL BELIEFS = GENERALIZATIONS – UNINTENTIONAL PREJUDICE NOT OVERT
ATTITUDES or CONDITIONAL BELIEF
“BLANKET STATEMENT”
GENERALIZATIONS

14. Self awareness questions
How much do I know about the beliefs and values of my co workers?
What do I need to know to understand the behaviors of clients who are totally different from my expression of diversity?

15. Organizational Questions
How can my beliefs and strengths help me to work better in my organization/practice?
How does my diversity profile add value to the overall vision and mission of my organization or practice?
What should I do to create an inclusive work environment that acknowledges and maximizes the positive aspect of all diversity?

16. Self-Awareness Negative Outcomes?

17. People avoid discomfort Denial is a common method of defending one's self from uncomfortable information, and used behavioral responses tend to stay intact.
“People don’t get along because they fear each other. People fear each other because they don’t know each other. They don’t know each other because they have not properly communicated with each other”
Martin Luther King. Jr
When you respond to a call from one of your clients that you have been asked to see, he says "You are too young to help me. Get me someone who knows something."
1. What is your reaction?
2. What do you say? (A.T.)
3. What do you do?
4. Discuss the effects of age in our culture. Is it an advantage to be older/younger? How about in other professions?
5. What if the client had said “I want a
woman (man) to handle my account?”
Examples

18. Strengths Perspective

19. STRENGTHS CHARATERISTICS
EXTERNAL
One Dimensional approach
What beneath the surface: More important talents, passions, perspectives, strengths = DIVERSITY OF THOUGHTS
Think about your secondary characteristics? CULTURE!!!!
INTERNAL

20. MALE AFRICAN AMERICAN OVER WEIGHT MIDDLE -AGED COMUNICATION SKILLS
WARM
SPIRITUAL
BOTTOM LINE FOCUS
DRIVEN
OPTIMISTIC
One Dimensional approach
What beneath the surface: More important talents, passions, perspectives, strengths = DIVERSITY OF THOUGHTS
Think about your secondary characteristics? CULTURE!!!!
SENSE OF HUMOR
CALMING PRESENCES
CONCEPTUALIZE
“BIG PICTURE”
INTELLIGENCE
LOGICAL

21. Diversity of Thought willingness, Readiness Opportunity.
TOTAL WORKFORCE Pre-Boomers & Boomers: 61% Gen X & Gen Y: 39%
NEW HIRES Pre-Boomers & Boomers: 30% Gen X & Gen Y: 70%
MANAGERS Pre-Boomers & Boomers: 74% Gen X & Gen Y: 26%
EXECUTIVES Pre-Boomers & Boomers: 99% Gen X & Gen Y: 1%

22. I know what I know
I know what I don’t know
I don’t know what I think I know
I don’t know what I don’t know
I suspect that too often our knowledge of diversity of thought falls in this last section, unrecognized and unknown.

23. “Diversity of thought”
Example of a board room meeting when ED COMES IN MARY,

24. To be successful, we must harness diversity of
Diversity of Thought
To be successful, we must harness diversity of
thought.
Diversity of people,
Diversity of background,
Diversity of experience,
Diversity of skills and strengths.
But most important,
Diversity of ideas.
Diversity of inventiveness.
Knowing.” There are four sections in the window—
I know what I know
I know what I don’t know
I don’t know what I think I know
I don’t know what I don’t know.
I suspect that too often our knowledge of diversity of thought falls in this last section, unrecognized and unknown.

25. In closing……
If we are doing our job as corporate leaders, we must think beyond the
current stock price.
Where will new ideas come from?
Where will new business models come from?
Where will talent come from?
Where will our customers come from?
We’re living in an era that’s defined by the power of ideas, the power of connections to knowledge, to information. Smart people reside everywhere in the world - all kinds of people and smart people brimming with ideas that have yet to be heard.