Diversity, according to the Department of Interior in the Office of Civil Rights, is a term “used broadly to refer to many demographic variables, including, but not limited to, race, religion, color, gender, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, age, education, geographic origin, and skill characteristics.” A broad topic, it has many nuances. Its rise in the workplace has made growth possible for both management and employees.

Diversity is essential in the professional world because it generates mutual respect. Different workers from all types of cultural background bring a plethora of talent and strengths to businesses.  In a multi-generation workforce, techies teach, share expertise such as the usefulness of Excel compared to the traditional creation of a table to document financial information. Interaction follows in which dialogue for other project collaboration begins.

Awareness of differences enables and assists in conflict resolution. Because awareness implies putting oneself in another person’s point of view, discussion of conflict can show similarities in perspective, facilitating resolution of problems such as quality control and leadership style.

A multicultural, multi-generational workplace is a rich learning place. Exposure to individual differences provides a window into one’s capacity to integrate new software, apps and gadgets into personal work style. Employees hear or receive suggestions, as well as making some themselves to solve challenges from a new perspective. Understanding new approaches improves overall teamwork and cohesiveness.

In general, human beings are defined by difference. No two persons are alike down to their most basic component, as DNA research has proven. Seen and experienced daily in the workplace, differences in individuals can be harnessed for growth that can produce a positive ripple effect in businesses. Differences and similarities are ingredients of progress and diversity.

Written by Yoli P.- The Help

At the risk of sounding like a broken record, times have truly changed. Employability requires more than a university degree. In some companies, the ability to harness support for community-oriented projects, such as waste management is a major plus for a job applicant. Proposal and grant writing skills are highly valued. A multi-lingual job seeker, however, has the same opportunities, even an advantage, in any situation.

Chances for employment are increased when a resume reflects a second language. In pitching a sale, negotiating a contract, and going on business trips, a second language can be an enormous asset. Transportation and tourism, communication, and teaching are some examples of jobs where a second or third language is welcomed.

Traveling or living overseas even for short periods with a second language means knowing how to ask for directions. More important, one gets an insight into the country’s culture. Conversations with people at meetings or chatting about food and drink while at dinner in a restaurant can be fun. After all, lifelong friendships start with informal chats. Museum visits are more appreciated because of language.

Learning a foreign or a second language is good for the brain. It continuously improves brainpower in that the brain changes in a similar way as the body when exercise is a regular regimen. These new synapses may delay and even prevent onset of disease such as dementia.

Acquiring, learning a new language necessitates time, patience, and money but it is well worth the investment. It is the link that connects people in all places and on all occasions. It is a way to understand human beings in general and a foreign partner in a business or per personal relationship, in particular. Nelson Mandela said, “If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to a man in his language, that goes to his heart.”

Written by Yoli P.- The Help

The role of women at home and the community has long changed as evidenced by two income families and women leaders nowadays. Although still in the low numbers worldwide, women business and political leaders have made forceful headway exemplified by Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg at Facebook, Executive Director Lisa Graves at the Center for Media and Democracy, and President Park Geun-hye of South Korea. Their vision of a better life is universal – encompassing their families, communities, and the world. Reading about them inspires and motivates other women to touch and actualize their own dreams.

Aside from focus and determination, women who follow their dreams share these seven elements:

1. Gratitude – they are grateful not only for the benefits that come their way but also for the challenges that make them grow and develop new skills to meet the obstacles head on.
2. Clear values – these are principled women who know the importance of honesty and fairness at home and in the workplace.
3. Responsible – they take 100% responsibility and are not into the “blame game.”
4. Belief – they have spiritual space that is a big part of their lives and they make time for it daily.
5. Take care of themselves – they look after themselves, mind and body, aware that if they’re not in top shape they won’t be good for others.
6. Positive – difficult as it may be, women who live their dreams fix their eyes on the positive, resolving and finding solutions for negatives.
7. Empower themselves as they empower others – in extending themselves to help others, they are reinforcing the qualities that got them to where they are.

As put by Mike Norton, making dreams come alive means “never say that you can’t do something, or that something seems impossible, or that something can’t be done, no matter how discouraging or harrowing it may be; human beings are limited only by what we allow ourselves to be limited by: our own minds. We are each the masters of our own reality; when we become self-aware to this: absolutely anything in the world is possible.”

Written by Yoli P.- The Help

Even with just seeing the mathematical plus symbol, we get a good vibe. Plus sums up stuff like monies, number of employees, as well as accomplishments. The idea of being positive is often equated with optimism. But being positive or optimism alone does not necessarily bring tangible results in daily life. Many believe in positive thinking and taking action that result in achieving goals. However, an optimistic person could also be a procrastinator implying that a positive mindset must come with a large dose of determination. The combination of positive thinking and action can bring a boatload of satisfaction and joy.

How do we create a positive mindset that becomes part of us, in our personal and professional lives? Researchers suggest that meditation, journaling, and relaxation are three of the best ways to maintain optimism or positive thinking.

From my experience of meditating, twice a day, in the last 25 years, I can say that its benefits truly outweigh any other practice. It is a practice “in which the mind is trained or induced to a level of consciousness, to achieve a benefit or as an end in itself” (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditation).

For example, focusing the mind on a particular challenge during meditation can bring up possible solutions to a job search problem. Someone recently laid off might recall that teaching was an interesting career option soon after college graduation. S/he might rekindle the interest, opening a path in tutoring with concentration on special needs children. Meditation opens up the mind to possibilities that may have been disregarded.

Leaving negative thoughts and ideas somewhere instead of verbalizing these to anyone prevents the spread of negativity. Writing about what steps to take to move closer to one’s goals can generate a sense of progress and that plans are slowly implemented. Writing brings up fresh ideas. This is where journaling comes in. The act of putting in writing one’s positive view of the future for family and career can ease the challenges one is confronted with.

Last but not least, include relaxation time in one’s life to insure healthy and balanced mental functions. Stress has a way of taking over, spilling into all aspects of activities. Children become irritating, husband unnerves wife, and bills are unmet. It is even more important to be positive during stressful times.

There’s a saying that behind every dark cloud is a silver lining. Because positive thinking is the silver lining, it is imperative to relax, write down good thoughts, and meditate to overcome negatives, whether ideas or people that may erode our determination to have positive thinking become part of who we are.

Written by Yoli P.- The Help

Admittedly, the success of a business depends on its human resource. Without the people behind operations who are implementing the company vision, an enterprise can fail. However, having employees doesn’t mean the road will be smooth; there’s work to be done in creating a cohesive team with win-win goals.

In the current business climate, management and employees are dependent on one another for knowledge and skills. A successful team is the result of management and its people working together. Working as a team means a long-term plan is in place, there is an agreed upon measurable goals, and recognition of team members’ performance.

Long term planning is a must to implement company vision. For example, if The Help intends to expand in a non-English speaking country in three years, language training becomes part of the vision and a priority for certain team members in the next year. Research will be undertaken to find the best available training. Adjustments of shifts and work schedules in a virtual office are put in place making certain that language learning is in every concerned team member’s calendar.

Taking the preceding example, language training for team members can be measured by their fluency within six months after training starts. If progress appears average, next steps can be reorganized to ensure that predetermined proficiency goal is achieved in accordance with the company growth plan. Monitoring and evaluating the team relative to learning a new skill is important, as it will show aptitude for the other skills acquisition.

Continuing with the same illustration, rewards and recognition via promotion or a bonus for team members’ performance, in this case, language acquisition will strengthen employee’s commitment to the goal. At the same time, the company will have shown its willingness to invest in its work force.

Building and developing a team takes time. Clear communication between management and employees along with understanding the company vision will help make a group of disparate individuals committed and articulate team members. An energetic, enthusiastic work force working side by side with a supportive management can achieve a win-win situation, the benchmark of success.

Written by Yoli P.- The Help