Just completed listening to an interesting discussion on BBC on the above theme. (follow external link)
Fascinating I must say! To me, both diversity and inclusion are like two rings of the magician. At one moment they are separately having their distinct identity and the next moment they get interlinked. All of us have a unique and distinct background that forms a basis for our biases, prejudices and value system. With this baggage when we enter an organisation or a new country we are expected to conform to a new set of orders that may be in conflict with what we hold to be right. It is this that creates conflicts. As members of one group, we do have our identities that conflict with the other value systems. The inter-group issues in many organisations have their origin in these kinds of individual perceptions. The solution is to clarify the values in an atmosphere of openness, mutuality and trust. Many years back I use to these kinds of group exercises in company settings. I recall doing this in a defence equipment public sector company in Bengaluru. We had two groups/teams belonging to the R&D department and the manufacturing department. In an ideal situation, both departments must have solid interdependence and trust but the reality was completely different. Both teams hated each other and often thrived in playing win-lose games. I gave three questions to these warring teams and asked them to work within the group.
- How do you see yourself and your team?
- How do you see other groups?
- How do you think they see you?
They were asked to write adjectives describing their views with no holds barred.
After two hours we posted the data on the flip sheets and analysed each statement. Agreements and disagreements were thrashed and a collaborative work plan was worked out with fixed accountability. I believe that when there is a convergence between our individual values and the values of the organisation and society we live in issues of diversity and inclusion will disappear. And as one speaker says it is more critical to explore who are you than what are you seem the right way forward.
