Introduction
Background
The business case for diversity is strong and many organisations are already switched on to the benefits of diversity in terms of innovation, productivity, market share and competitiveness in a globalised economy. By embracing diversity in all its forms including gender, age, abilities, ethnic origin, faith or sexual orientation, we are embracing diversity of thought and cultivating a culture inclusive of difference.
There is an increasing level of awareness amongst New Zealand organisations that promoting and fostering organisational diversity is about more than just doing the right thing, but there is still work to be done to achieve a general acceptance that there is no one size fits all approach and that doing diversity and inclusion well requires true leadership rather than management solutions.
There is an increasing level of awareness amongst New Zealand organisations that promoting and fostering organisational diversity is about more than just doing the right thing, but there is still work to be done to achieve a general acceptance that there is no one size fits all approach and that doing diversity and inclusion well requires true leadership rather than management solutions.
Leaders must put in place mechanisms to bring out the best in diverse individuals and teams, ensuring that they make the most of everyone’s talents by encouraging an approach that values the transmission of valuable knowledge and experience from one generation to another, one culture to another, and one team to another.
Organisations that can attract the right mix of skilled employees and engage them so they can contribute their energy and creativity at work will be best placed to compete in the rapidly changing business environment. In New Zealand and globally, effectively managing a diverse workforce has become critical to business success. Indeed, a diverse and inclusive culture has been identified as a key to the recruitment and retention equation, with those businesses making this at the core of their strategic priorities home to happy employees who feel motivated and appreciated.