Maya Angelou said that there is beauty and strength in diversity: "We should all know that diversity makes for a rich tapestry, and we must understand that all the threads of the tapestry are equal in value no matter their colour”.Seen from a business perspective, one can view the tapestry to be the organisation, the different threads to be the employees working for the organisation and the tapestry weaver an HR manager or HR department.
In a diversity rich country such as South Africa an HR manager (the weaver in the above mentioned analogue) needs to know the employees (the threads) in order to utilize their different strengths and assets to weave a truly beautiful tapestry (a competitive organisation) where every thread has a place and adds value.
As an HR manager or HR practitioner you can create a culture of inclusivity and make all employees feel at home through activities such as:
·Challenge all managers and supervisors in the organisation to step out of their comfort zones and to expand their circle of affinity by having lunch with employees in different departments. If you work in an organisation with a flat organisational structure, you can encourage all employees to alternate who they have lunch with.
·Host a workshop for employees to find out their strengths and give the employees time to talk about themselves and ask them to explain in small groups how they use their strengths every day to perform their daily tasks. Go to https://www.authentichappiness.sas.upenn.edu/home for examples of tests that you can use to help employees find out their strengths. Remember that all employees are different and have different strengths which need to be nurtured and acknowledged.
·Grant all employees, across all departments and work levels, the opportunity to take part in the planning of social and team building activities.
·Offer mentoring opportunities for new employees.
·Treat all employees like they matter, regardless of their job title or experience.
·Have an open door policy and let all employees know that they are welcome to discuss any concerns.
·Acknowledge achievements of employees, even if it is not work related (for example, an employee that ran the comrades or completed a qualification etc.).
An organisation that is successful at making employees feel like they belong will benefit by having a workforce with an array of perspectives, views, talents and skills that will lead to greater innovation and creativity. Employees who are happy at their place of work are less likely to leave for other employment opportunities, which will save a company the cost of recruiting and training someone new.
The HR Department of an organisation therefore plays a big role in creating the right atmosphere at work where employees can flourish and excel.
Article by Zoe Auths, 25 May 2015: BMT College