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America’s Challenge to Businesses: Show Your Diversity
Businesses, small and big, have been challenged to show their diversity and to show that they are all they claim to be supporting. If you’re a small business owner, especially a micro-small business, it is difficult–if not impossible–to give a “face of the business” that represents every race, ethnicity, culture, community, and gender. There simply are not enough people in your organization to accomplish that objective. That should not be your objective though.
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Councils or DEIB Councils is the response to this challenge, with coaching, mentoring, and leadership for small and medium businesses. Additionally, if you are a privately owned small businesses with 100 or fewer employees, DEIB Councils is here to be an experiential advisory council to help your business along its DEI journey.
Diversity and Inclusion Paradox
If you focus on diversity and hire to match a metric based checklist, you potentially put your business and the employee at a disadvantage by selecting an unqualified candidate. Being diverse also doesn’t guarantee your business culture makes that team member feel they are really wanted there. If you are focusing on ensuring your culture is tolerant and accepting of all the varying types of people that come through your organization, everyone may feel at home and able to contribute, but you might not get as well rounded a team as you could have.
So, how do you move forward past this dilemma?