"diversity is our greatest strength". From my experience, this is not a load of tripe! I had the honour of leading several diverse groups in my career, and without a doubt, they were the best. I retired after leading a mixed group of Americans, Europeans, Asians, and Antipodians. In my farewell speech, I told them that the nine years I had led the team were the most productive and enjoyable years I had spent. Yes, they were from different cultures, but the groups quickly recognised the strengths and weaknesses of their cultures and formed teams to exploit their differences, not emphasise them. Of course, I let them self-organise, with just a light touch from my senior management team. As a result, we reduced the idea-to-manufacturing time from over a year to nine weeks.
Well said, John. Thank you. And yet, and yet, I stand by my statement ... although, I admit, it requires qualification.
The idea that diverse perspectives (from both background and general opinion) help better inform solutions of various kinds is, of course, long-established and indisputable. And I, too, have both worked in and led 'diverse teams'.
BUT I'm prepared to bet that, whatever the diverse teams you worked with, the various members were generally qualified in whatever business it was that you you were all engaged in. And that's absolutely fine.
However, today, it seems to me, diversity is being applied in - how shall we say - a rather more sloppy fashion. Priority is being given to certain 'diversity characteristics' (in particular, ethnicity) ahead of considerations regarding any skill or merit to do the actual task.
Not only does having an Englishman, a Scotsman and an Irishman not necessarily make a good joke, it does not necessarily make anything else. It's just as illogical as insisting that any work team contains individuals who range in height from 5 feet to 7 feet.
So, yes, "Diversity is our greatest strength", as it has increasingly been applied, is, in my opinion, tripe. By contrast, I entirely agree with e pluribus unum (out of many, one).
Put it another way, 'Unity is our greatest strength'. :-)
"diversity is our greatest strength". From my experience, this is not a load of tripe! I had the honour of leading several diverse groups in my career, and without a doubt, they were the best. I retired after leading a mixed group of Americans, Europeans, Asians, and Antipodians. In my farewell speech, I told them that the nine years I had led the team were the most productive and enjoyable years I had spent. Yes, they were from different cultures, but the groups quickly recognised the strengths and weaknesses of their cultures and formed teams to exploit their differences, not emphasise them. Of course, I let them self-organise, with just a light touch from my senior management team. As a result, we reduced the idea-to-manufacturing time from over a year to nine weeks.
Well said, John. Thank you. And yet, and yet, I stand by my statement ... although, I admit, it requires qualification.
The idea that diverse perspectives (from both background and general opinion) help better inform solutions of various kinds is, of course, long-established and indisputable. And I, too, have both worked in and led 'diverse teams'.
BUT I'm prepared to bet that, whatever the diverse teams you worked with, the various members were generally qualified in whatever business it was that you you were all engaged in. And that's absolutely fine.
However, today, it seems to me, diversity is being applied in - how shall we say - a rather more sloppy fashion. Priority is being given to certain 'diversity characteristics' (in particular, ethnicity) ahead of considerations regarding any skill or merit to do the actual task.
Not only does having an Englishman, a Scotsman and an Irishman not necessarily make a good joke, it does not necessarily make anything else. It's just as illogical as insisting that any work team contains individuals who range in height from 5 feet to 7 feet.
Typical recent lunacies include the U.S. Air Traffic Control https://viewfromthewing.com/diversity-in-the-skies-faas-controversial-shift-in-air-traffic-controller-hiring/ ... the RAF "useless white male pilots" debacle ... and numerous corporate DEI efforts.
So, yes, "Diversity is our greatest strength", as it has increasingly been applied, is, in my opinion, tripe. By contrast, I entirely agree with e pluribus unum (out of many, one).
Put it another way, 'Unity is our greatest strength'. :-)