Firms all around the world are increasingly focusing on having a diverse workplace. Every firm that strives to improve its culture and creativity talks about having a diverse workforce, but what does that imply?
There is a fundamental problem preventing workplace diversity: the effort to locate excellent talent is one of the top issues recruiting managers encounter and obtaining varied talent outside of large cities is much more difficult. This is where remote working comes in handy: not only will you be able to recruit talent from all over the world, but you will also be able to recruit a far more varied workforce!
What are the benefits of having a diverse staff, though?
81% of founders say diversity boosts creativity and innovation.
67% of entrepreneurs say diversity promotes problem solving.
63% of entrepreneurs say a diverse workforce provides more access to talent.
According to the statistics, having a diverse workforce is extremely beneficial to businesses. So, how can you develop a more diverse workforce? Many people think of diversity as diverse demographics like genders, ethnicities, age groups, religions or sexual orientations — and that is true — but HR professionals know that pursuing someone who is a ‘woman and Christian,’ for example, is illegal due to discrimination (although this still happens). What benefits would this type of diversity offer to your company?
Recruiting diverse talent isn’t about hiring minorities; it’s about finding variety in thought and ideas and finding people who can think for themselves and outside the box, resulting in a workplace that reflects and considers multiple points of view — whether they’re in the minority or not. Finding people with various perspectives stimulates the injection of new ideas, creativity, and development into the firm, allowing it to grow and thrive.
When hiring, ask yourself these questions: what are the strengths in diversity that the organization already has? — Consider individual teams and how they contribute to the business. How does your team collaborate to generate outstanding results?
What are the issues with diversity in my team? What are the gaps in your team? To make a difference, what sort of thinker do you need?
Attracting diverse talent is difficult; you must consider how your firm is seen and ensure that the outside world understands that your employees have a voice and that their opinions are highly respected and important. Those having something to say will not be drawn to a company that does not allow them to speak up. To attract thinkers, you must be unique, motivational, and inspiring.
