In many places in the US, DEI initiatives and education about DEI have come under scrutiny. In this context, it’s important to remember the growing consensus that diverse teams outperform homogeneous ones. Sources such as the Harvard Business Review and McKinsey (not usually identified as left-wing ideologues) continue to find evidence about why this is the case. In a recent article in Forbes, Ron Carucci summarized:
- Increased innovation, creativity and learning. People from different backgrounds contribute different perspectives and thought processes that help generate new ideas, especially when diverse teams collaborate. In design thinking, “mash-ups” of possibilities that seem dissimilar are a tried-and-true way to spark creative solutions.
- Inclusive environments invite rather than stifle fresh ideas. When people know they are valued and feel safe, they’re willing to share their best and even to risk disagreement. If you’ve ever tried to wind-tunnel test a new project, you know that group-think and “yes people” can increase the risk that flawed ideas win the day.
- Diverse teams retain talent, especially with younger colleagues. Millenial and Gen Z workers consistently list diversity and inclusion as top priorities that drive their decisions whether to stay with an organization long term. Moreover, retaining top talent tends to produce a virtuous cycle in which talented team members convince others to join. (The opposite, vicious cycle stands as a significant hazard. Once teams start to leak talent, it can be hard to repair the cracks.)
- The more complex the problem, the more efforts to solve it will benefit from heterogeneous perspectives and approaches. The same is true for agility. In today’s environment of accelerating change, increasing complexity, and rising uncertainty, the rewards that accrue to diverse teams are going up. (The opposite is also true! Carucci cites McKinsey that organizations’ “lack of diversity” is “getting more expensive” every year.)
- A culture that succeeds in fostering belonging improves morale for everyone. Motivated teams who care about one another usually win, especially when the race is a marathon instead of a sprint.
So what? You get to decide whether and how you prioritize diversity in your next opportunities. As you do, you may want to include pragmatic issues alongside ethical ones in your calculus. Good news for Colby students: DavisConnects was founded on principles of diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice, and our team invites you to bring your authentic self to Grossman Hall, whatever that means to you. Even more good news: You will encounter lots of chances to work with diverse teams in your time at the College.
