“According to a recent demographic analysis conducted by the Pew Research Center, by 2055, the U.S. will no longer have a single racial or ethnic majority. This shift towards a more diverse population will have major impacts on the workforce and how organizations address diversity in the workplace.” -PeopleScout

Diversity in workplaces is a common topic among recruitment professionals, hiring managers, and human resources departments. Workplace diversity is having employees with a wide range of characteristics and experiences and understanding and accepting those unique characteristics that set them apart from each other. Advocates have been building the case for workplace diversity for decades but just in a few years, the movement has grown by leaps and bounds. Workplace diversity is no longer just about hiring diversely unique individuals, it is also about making sure that there is equal participation among the diverse workplace. In short, diversity should go hand in hand with inclusivity and empowerment. There are a lot of actual benefits to having a diverse team.

Striving to create a diverse workforce is no longer an office slogan – it is actually a sound business decision. Studies show that diverse teams turn out to be smarter. This is because they tend to bring out the best in each other. Putting a variety of talented people in the same room will produce a collaboration that challenges their thinking and sharpen their performance. It can only yield incredible benefits to your business. Here are some of them:

• A homogeneous team is likely to generate similar ideas while a heterogeneous workforce is likely to exchange unique perspectives. This difference between perspectives allows teams to be non-conformist and dream up new concepts and ideas that result in radical innovation and unrestrained creativity.
• Diverse teams focus more on facts because they are more aware of their own potential biases. Thus, they become better at problem-solving because they produce more solutions. They are quicker at decision-making because they generate more solutions that lead to being better informed. This gives companies with diverse teams a great advantage over competitors.
• Diversity can also translate to increased profits. A diverse workforce is more likely to understand your customers’ needs and come up with innovative and more creative ideas to fulfill them.
• Diversity improves employee engagement and reduces turnover. The reason is simple, employees who feel more included are more engaged. Thus, they feel happier and stay with the company longer.

Diversity is not just a hiring fad to show that employers are inclusive and socially responsible. It is also an opportunity to show that the company is a great place to work in and that attracts top talent. Diversity in your teams will not only improve your company’s profits and reputation but will also improve your organization’s intellectual potential. What other benefits do you see to having diverse teams? Share them with us in the comments. Remember to work smart and be a blessing to someone today. Stay safe and healthy!

Written by Jaie O. TheHelp