Leveraging Diversity in a Globalised World

Tom Verghese “The Cultural Synergist”

For the first time in the history of management, it is the human mind that is the primary creator of value. The quality of the people and their engagement will

be critical factors in corporate vitality and survival.

The Conference Board of Canada, 2004

Resources

www.culturalsynergies.com/ resources.htm

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Globalisation

Diversity

Diversity – Business Case Themes

Innovation

Teams Talent

Credibility

Customer

Diversity

The Iceberg

Primary Dimensions •  Age •  Gender •  Race •  Ethnicity •  Physical qualities

Secondary Dimensions •  Work background •  Income •  Parental status •  Education •  Religious beliefs •  Marital status •  Geographical location •  Political beliefs

Diversity

Inclusion

Culture

Why is culture important?

shapes influences

Kwang, 2001

The Three Brains

Reptilian

Limbic

Cortex

Dr Clotaire Rapaille, Archetype Discoveries

The Elephant in the Room

Perception

Perception

Perception (faces)

How many faces do you see?

Pool of all possible data

Select data

Interpret data

Reach conclusions

Mental Models

Take Action

Results

Mike Canning of Duke University

Ladder of Inference

Perceptions

“ Actions I take are totally decided by the perceptions I have”

Edward De Bono

Age

Culture

Gender

Mental / Physical Ability

Organisational Role

CEO

Manager Manager Manager

Race

Religion

Seven Aspects of Diversity

•  Age

•  Culture

•  Gender

•  Mental/Physical Ability

•  Organisational Role

•  Race

•  Religion

Inclusion/Exclusion Exercise

•  Reflect on 2 separate occasions where you experienced exclusion and inclusion

– What happened? – What was the impact? – How did you feel?

3 H Model

Heart

Head

Hands

Increased perceived opportunity

Decreased perceived risk

Decreased perceived opportunity

Increased perceived risk

The Diversity Adoption Process

Traditionalist Skeptic Pragmatist Innovator Change agent

2.5% 13.5% 34% 34% 16%

D evelop awareness

I nitiate dialogue about diversity

V alue similarities and differences

E mbrace role modelling behaviour

R espect diversity to create synergy

S eek first to understand

I nstigate diversity practices

T hink the talk. Talk the talk. Walk the talk.

Y ou make a difference!

Strategies for Managing Diversity