Diversity & Inclusion in the Work Place and our Communities
In my recent personal readings, I came across this sentence: “Smart Leaders Model Diversity Thinking”. These 5 words challenged me to write a few lines about WJS’ 5 Values. Which so beautifully, if combined together, would address and shape the implementations of our current and future journey of WJS Values in our Relationship Building Capabilities, Service Delivery Capabilities and Skills Transformation Capabilities among all sectors, both internally and externally.
Here are my thoughts:
1- Accountability:
In addressing accountability let me ask you this question: How does culture affect health, that impacts our performance – a part of our accountability to our organization – WJS Canada?
The influence of culture on our health is huge. It affects our perceptions of health in relation to our performance and commitment = accountability to WJS such as staff levels of:
- Stress and Anxiety
- Burn Out
- Quitting
- Engagement and Participation
- Becoming a Team Player
- Buying into WJS Culture
So, the importance of practicing cultural awareness, sensitivity and safety (diversity and inclusion) become paramount in our daily tasks, individually and collectively.
2- Integrity:
Leadership integrity and diversity are significant elements in the relationship between leader and employees in our workplace. An effective, collaborative and diversified thinking leader practices humility, resiliency and cultural safety, thus creating a respectful and harmonious work place. This is another goal of WJS which is sacred.
3- Passion:
A collaborative and diversified thinking leader knows how to stimulate “Diversity of Thoughts” in their team members. Of course, we need to have a well-rounded team, so that each team member develops unique Passion towards WJS Foundations (Mission, Vision and Values). Diversity of thought creates excitement and energizes team members with new ideas and creative thinking; and this is an impactful road map for our business growth and development.
4- Quality:
Quality from both qualitative and quantitative aspects shape and form our Service Delivery Process, which in return effects the persons we serve. Team members practicing diversity and inclusion bring:
- Talents, skills and experiences
- Improves team members performance
- Create, cultivate and nurture innovations
- Provide opportunities for team member to grow thier talent pool
- Having different language skills among team members could open the doors of business opportunities and stronger engagement and interpersonal relationship building with persons served and communities.
5- Teamwork/Team Spirit:
Team diversity is one of the most significant uniqueness of each team members. Here we should not only refer to diverse selections such as gender, race, sex, age and ethnicity…rather; we need to be aware of unique personality characteristics such as; assertiveness, risk-taker, confidence, positive mindset, reflective thinking, critical thinking, emotional competency, etc…. So, in our new work place environment, where the traditional hierarchical approach has been replaced by less structured models, one could truly appreciate the importance of team work/spirit in relation to what practicing diversity and inclusion could bring to the overall healthy team work/spirit.
In conclusion, I would like to share with my WJS family members that times are changing, migrations are re-shaping our economy, businesses, politics, educational systems, demographics, communities and behaviours. In these changes diversity and inclusion are becoming more integral to cultivating and nurturing strong team spirits and thus, strong organizations.
Since it is the utmost desire of WJS family members to reach and to achieve our 5-10-year strategic plans, we need to become Diversified Thinkers….that is all.
From the desk of,
Hussein O.