How Workplace Diversity Helps Create A Productive Work Environment

‘Diversity’ is the keyword of the decade, seeping into every walk of life as more and more people cast off their xenophobic shells to embrace a fairer, more just world; and workplaces are no different. Organizations the world over are actively building diverse teams inclusive of culture, gender, and skill; and rightly so, if the 2018 McKinsey report ‘Delivering through Diversity’ is anything to go by. According to data collected from over 10,000 companies in 12 countries worldwide, organizations in the top quartile for gender and racial diversity are 21% and 33% more likely reap larger revenues than their non-diverse competitors.

But how does workplace diversity contribute towards enhanced productivity and higher financial returns? We know that creativity and wide-ranging solutions are what drive productivity and organizational development, and a diverse workforce does just that. Team members from varied backgrounds bring different perspectives and schools of thought to the problem-solving table, resulting in more creative, innovative, and optimized solutions than their homogenous counterparts. Moreover, continued exposure to and interaction with individuals from diverse professional backgrounds invites further learning and instills the drive for personal and professional improvement among teammates, both of which fuel a productive work environment. Similarly, a wide-spectrum organization rich in a workforce inclusive of gender, ethnicity, religion, and skill not only boosts employee morale to the ends if increased employee loyalty and optimum work performance, but also attracts a wider pool of skilled professionals by presenting itself as a forward-thinking and just organization. An added benefit of an intercultural team is the sheer variety of languages and cultural understanding that individuals bring on board with them. Not only does this allow organizations to appeal to a wider clientele within their home bases, but also sets the stage for successful global expansion.

However, it must be noted that simply recruiting a colorful plethora of individuals is not sufficient for increasing company-wide productivity and growth. Organizations must also work to improve upon their internal and external policies, resources, and compensation packages to ensure true diversity, workforce motivation, productivity, and growth.