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Diversity
I know that diversity has been a big topic of conversation ever since the early 1990s when research supported the demographics that by the year 2000, 85% of the entering workforce would be female, African-American, Asian-American, Latino, or new immigrants. The fact that white males would be a minority entering the workplace was a wake up call for corporate America. How have we done sine then? I suggest that there has been definite improvement in the area of hiring but it seems that once women and minorities are hired, there are informal, relatively unconscious systems in place that prevent advancement of the minority worker or women, even today. If there is to be a true advancement in the area of valuing diversity, then the system must be revised so that there truly is equal opportunity for advancement for everyone, including the white male. I am not advocating for a system that promotes workers who are incompetent to meet some type of quote system. What I am suggesting is that management begins to closely examine the formal and informal systems that are in place that prevent advancement by women and minorities. Of course this is a monumental task and many would like to believe that it is unnecessary---that there is no problem here. That is part of the problem. On the surface, it seems that things or improving, however, under close scrutiny there are many flaws. Why would a company make a commitment to this self-introspection? Wouldn't it make things worse before they got better? The answer to the second question is quite possibly yes. The answer to the first question is bottom line dollars and cents, as well as the fact that it is the humanitarian thing to do. America is a multicultural nation that is becoming more multicultural daily. That is a reality. Unless a company intends to market and sell to only mainstream America, the contributions of minorities and women in the workplace are invaluable. This does not even begin to touch on the advantages of diversity for the global market! Addressing the diversity issue is a three-part one. The first step is what I call Awareness. This is a time for individual self-reflection for each member of the workforce. There are many skilled training programs available that are designed to raise the awareness of the individual. If this step is missed, then taking the next two steps will be ineffective. Individuals must develop a certain amount of empathy and understanding for the experience of being a minority in the country. With this empathy and understanding, a new motivation will develop to learn more and to be in tune with the needs of female and minority workers on the job. Even those who believe that they are aware and knowledgeable will be surprised at how much they really don't know. The second step involves honoring, respecting and valuing the diversity of each individual. Diversity is so much more than race and ethnicity. It has been defined as a total way of life and is learned. Take a white person and have him raised by African-American parents, and his culture will be that of African-American. Conversely, a black child raised by Caucasian parents will have a Caucasian culture. When difference is truly honored, respected and valued, no longer are people concerned about who is right and who is wrong. There is a place for everything and no one is wrong. What works best in one situation may not work best in another. Everyone's opinion is valued. Instead of shutting down when differing views are expressed, the new paradigm is to listen for the wisdom in the difference and the means to incorporate it into the way things are currently done for the good of all. The final, and perhaps the most difficult, stage is to examine the systems that are already in place. One of the systems that has continually been blamed is that to get along in the world of work, women and minorities need to "act" like white males. It is this acculturation that will currently get a person ahead. This is fine in the short run for the company, however, in the long run, when embracing difference, having workers who are comfortable with their own culture and can bring with them the advantages and benefits from that culture into the workplace is invaluable. Also, setting it up so minorities and females realize that they must acculturate on the job is not a good thing for the worker. People want to be their authentic selves in all situations and why shouldn't they be permitted to be that unless it interferes with the quality of the products or services produced? There are several other systems in place of which most in management are completely unaware. It generally takes a consultant from outside the system to come in and do a complete analysis of what is working and what is not. Once the areas for improvement have been identified, then the real work begins! There are some companies in America who have been working on workplace diversity for years and are still striving for higher levels. To truly be committed to the process is probably a lifetime commitment. Diversity appreciation is more of a journey than a destination. To learn about diversity, visit www.CoachingforExcellence.biz and check our events calendar for upcoming teleclasses, chats and workshops or you may email Kim at Kim@CoachingforExcellence.biz or phone 708-957-6047. Coaching for Excellence provides training, consulting and individual coaching in the area of diversity. Choice Theory is the theory underlying all the work we do. Get started today. You don't want to be the company that didn't attend to the diversity issue and be left behind in the marketplace. Kim Olver has an undergraduate degree in psychology, a graduate degree in counseling, is a National Certified Counselor and is a licensed professional counselor. Since 1987, Kim has extensively studied the work of Dr. William Glasser's Choice Theory, Reality Therapy and Lead Management. She was certified in Reality Therapy in 1992 and continued her studies to become a certified instructor for the William Glasser Institute. She is an expert at empowering people to navigate the sometimes difficult course of life---teaching them how to get the most out of the circumstances life provides them. She offers free chats, assessments, a blog and an eZine, as well as workshops, teleclasses, e-courses, counseling and coaching. Visit her website at http://www.CoachingforExcellence.biz or contact her at (708) 957-6047.
Latest News:Site: Yahoo! News Search Results for news Myanmar's Suu Kyi to get family letters, news mags (Reuters via Yahoo! News) Detained Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi has managed to wring small concessions from the ruling generals in the form of letters from her family and some international news magazines, her lawyer said on Friday. SEC Looks Into UAL Stock Scare; Implications For Online News? (CBS News) A ton of digits have been devoted to this in other spots but the SEC's decision to investigate takes it to another level. The backstory: a six-year-old news story about UAL declaring bankruptcy made it into the Tribune-owned Sun-Sentinel 's current news flow, was picked up by a Google (NSDQ: GOOG) News bot and, via a reporter for a newsletter, made it onto Bloomberg News. After a lot of buck ... JCDecaux in talks for News Outdoor Group in Russia (AP via Yahoo! News) French outdoor advertising firm JCDecaux SA said Thursday it is negotiating to buy Russian rival News Outdoor Group from global media company News Corp. News Corp tightens grip on Premiere with new CEO (Reuters via Yahoo! News) Rupert Murdoch tightened his grip on German pay-TV broadcaster Premiere by appointing News Corp executive Mark Williams as CEO in a move to get the company back on track. Phila. mayor to announce grim budget news (The Philadelphia Inquirer) The Nutter administration is expected to announce grim budget news today, which is all but certain to lead to significant spending cuts - perhaps as high as 10 percent - in some city departments, according to three sources familiar with the budget. JCDecaux and News Corp. in talks to combine outdoor ad groups (International Herald Tribune) The News Corp. chief executive, Rupert Murdoch, has recently expressed nervousness about investments in Russia, where News Outdoor generated the bulk of its revenue last year. Help News pick Stadium's greatest moment (New York Daily News) The News is marking the countdown to the final game at The House That Ruth Built by reflecting on Yankee Stadium's greatest moments - and we're asking you - the reader - to help us pick out the best of the best. SEC Looks Into UAL Stock Scare; Implications For Online News? (paidContent.org via Yahoo! Finance) A ton of digits have been devoted to this in other spots but the SEC's decision to investigate takes it to another level. The backstory: a six-year-old news story about UAL declaring bankruptcy made it into the Tribune-owned Sun-Sentinel's current news flow, was picked up by a Google News bot and, via a reporter for a newsletter, made it onto Bloomberg News. JCDecaux in talks to buy News Corp. billboard unit (AP via Yahoo! Finance) In a deal that would create the world's largest outdoor advertising company, French conglomerate JCDecaux SA said Thursday that it is in talks to buy Russian rival News Outdoor Group from global media company News Corp. News Corp says Mark Williams interim Premiere CEO (Reuters via Yahoo! News) News Corp. executive Mark Williams has taken over as chief executive of German pay-TV broadcaster Premiere in an interim capacity, News Corp. said after the move led to renewed takeover speculation. Site: news - Google News New Voices in Congress Will Change the Tone of the Democratic Majority - New York Times
MORE RESOURCES: Site: Yahoo! News Search Results for ethics Charges against Queens assemblyman amplifies calls for ethics reform (Rochester Democrat and Chronicle) In the wake of charges by a federal prosecutor that a Queens assemblyman solicited $500,000 in bribes from people trying to influence state government, reform groups Thursday renewed their calls for tougher state ethics laws. Ethics panel clears Gibbons (Reno Gazette-Journal) A Nevada Ethics Commission panel concluded Thursday that there's no evidence to support a claim by a state Democratic Party official that Republican Gov. Jim Gibbons pressured a county assessor to get an unwarranted property tax break. Charges against assemblyman spur call for tighter ethics laws (The Journal News) Following charges by a federal prosecutor that an assemblyman from Queens solicited $500,000 in bribes from people trying to influence state government, reform groups yesterday renewed their calls for tougher state ethics laws. Ethics complaint filed against Loux over salary hikes (Las Vegas Review-Journal) Assembly Minority Leader Heidi Gansert, R-Reno, filed an ethics complaint today against Nevada Nuclear Projects Agency chief Bob Loux. The complaint alleges that Loux improperly used his position to ?grant unwarranted privileges? to himself in violation of state ethics laws. House overrides ethics veto, 110-3 (Herald & Review) SPRINGFIELD - The Illinois House on Wednesday voted overwhelmingly to override Gov. Rod Blagojevich's veto of a major campaign ethics bill. The question of whether to outlaw so-called pay-to-play politics now rests with the state Senate. Ethics complaint filed in pay raise flap (The Fresno Bee) The head of Nevada's anti-nuclear dump agency was hit Thursday with an ethics complaint filed by a legislative leader irate that the official gave himself and other staffers pay increases far above authorized amounts. Read comments Judge tells ethics luncheon 'Ethics is hard work' (Midland Reporter-Telegram) By Mella McEwen Oil Editor Ethics was the topic of Thursday's luncheon during the West Texas Geological Society's annual Fall Symposium. Ethics committee meets in secret (The Auburn Citizen) ALBANY - The New York Assembly's ethics committee met behind closed doors in an unannounced session Thursday involving a disciplinary case. Members wouldn't say if it concerned a colleague now facing federal charges of taking $500,000 in illegal payments, another accused of an extramarital affair with a legislative employee or a third accused of sexually harassing a woman. Ligon cleared of state ethics complaint (The Woodlands Villager) Attorney Brett Ligon, who defeated incumbent District Attorney Michael McDougal for the Republican nomination in the April runoff election, has been cleared of any wrongdoing regarding a complaint filed against him with the Texas Ethics Commission shortly before the runoff. Pelosi taps Va. Rep. Bobby Scott for ethics panel (Richmond Times-Dispatch) NEWPORT NEWS -- Virginia Representative Bobby Scott has been appointed to the House Ethics Committee. The Newport News Democrat said yesterday he was appointed by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to the committee, formally known as the House Committee on Standards of Official Conduct. He will succeed Representative Stephanie Tubbs Jones, the Ohio Democrat who died Aug. 20. Site: ethics - Google News Ethics Overhaul Sought in Massachusetts - New York Times
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