A supplement in a recent Indianapolis Business Journal was entitled Diversity In Practice – Building A Culture of Inclusion. I have always enjoyed this topic as I believe most time devoted to these efforts are ALL about the external practice, the company policy, hollow in nature and to truly impact the workplace the FOCUS needs to be more about the internal, hidden prejudices of man and what is in – the heart.
In other words, diversity initiatives are just another corporate program if the hearts of the employees aren’t in it. Diversity in a workplace is about intentionality externally but their has to be an internal component – HAS TO BE. It is about the love of your fellow man – all of them. How can we expect people to implement these programs externally if their hearts are filled with contempt?
I am not really sure how I arrived at this topic but let me continue with this sermon. Can I get a witness, please. I guess my thoughts focus on love – or at a minimum – like – in the workplace. How do you get that? Well, that’s our policy here. Sure. I think you get that by REALLY examining your own heart and by intentionally getting to know those around you – someone that is different from you – and by the way – isn’t everyone different from you? Meditation on the hidden and – uncomfortable, perhaps at first, in what is seen.
I think what I am arriving at here is that the company’s diversity policy really does not matter. It is your personal diversity policy that matters. Everyone has a personal diversity policy – perhaps you need to take a look at yours in your own personal retreat or roundtable.
One more validation. In this supplement, one of the ads has the text – “Our differences help us find a common language” – well no they don’t. Our caring to understand what the differences are, getting to know one another, taking the time with one another help us find what should really be a part of the workplace. Caring for co-workers? Love of fellow man? Huh? Did I just write this stuff? I think I did.
This diversity thing really is not hard unless your heart is. Change your heart, change your workplace.
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