Why Diverse Teams Perform Better
Diversity and inclusion puts employees at the forefront of their organization by creating a welcoming environment for all. That’s why a majority of employees and job seekers – 76% to be exact – consider a diverse workforce to be an important factor when evaluating companies and job offers according to a recent study from Glassdoor.
When implemented correctly, diversity and inclusion can also directly influence decision-making, employee retention, engagement, and more, all allowing diverse teams to perform better when compared to homogeneous ones. For a more in-depth look at these benefits, take a look at these five points below.
Diverse teams make better decisions
When decisions are made by teams, the outcome is greater than those made by individuals, and when those teams are diverse, the outcome is even more successful. This is because when decisions are made by diverse teams, it means the decision-making process has had time to be well thought out and challenged by multiple groups of people. New perspectives and ideas are able to be discussed while also eliminating bias and groupthink.
Diverse teams increase employee retention and hiring
A diverse workplace creates an environment where usually underrepresented groups come to feel valued and appreciated. Without these two key values at an organization, employees are more likely to find a position where their unique experiences will be beneficial. On the other hand, when organizations do put a focus on diversity and inclusion, it can increase employee retention, saving time and costs for the organization. This is because when current employees feel valued and welcomed, they are more likely to stay in their organization and continue to work hard. Likewise, when prospective employees see similar groups to their own are represented, they are able to see themselves at the organization and can feel more inclined to apply and accept offers, keeping the cycle of hard-working employees going.
Diverse teams boost employee engagement
Simply put, employee engagement refers to an individual’s commitment to their organization and the passion they have for their work. When employees are engaged with their work, it means they’re not doing their job because they feel obligated to, but instead they want to put the work in because they genuinely enjoy the work that they do and believe in the overall mission of their organization. With this in mind, it’s no surprise that employee engagement can affect every aspect of an organization – its employees, the way they serve their customers or clients, and even overall profitability. However, in order to achieve high levels of employee engagement, it’s crucial that organizations are open to becoming diverse. Without a diverse work environment, it can be difficult for employees to feel comfortable, welcomed, and valued – all key components of employee engagement.
Diverse teams welcome creativity and innovation
When groups of diverse people come together, it also means new perspectives are coming together. In other words, diverse groups are able to share their unique experiences, stories, and ideas that may have otherwise gone overlooked. For team members – whether they have shared similar experiences or not – these stories can serve as inspiration for creativity and innovation. As researchers put it, diversity allows teams to reach an "aha" moment that simply doesn’t happen with only one way of thinking.
Diverse teams are more productive
At the end of the day, diverse teams are filled with engaged employees that are collaborative, creative, and innovative. They are willing to share experiences that contribute to better decision-making and treat their organization with the same respect they are given. With these attributes, diverse teams strive to be productive. They are able to recognize differences and use them to their advantage in order to outthink and outperform non-diverse teams.
Whether you're looking to diversify your talent pool or want to be connected with a diverse organization, Nexus is here to help. Contact us today to get started.
