Building a Magnetic Culture: How to Attract and Retain Top Talent to Create an Engaged, Productive Workforce

CHAPTER 6DO NOT IGNORE DIVERSITY

There are only two things I can’t stand in this world. People who are intolerant of other people’s cultures and the Dutch.

—MICHAEL CAINE’S CHARACTER, NIGEL POWERS,IN THE AUSTIN POWERS MOVIE Goldmember

Diversity is an “elephant in the room” at many organizations. As globalization increases and the demographics of the workforce encompass employees with disparate backgrounds, diversity becomes a greater element than ever. Unfortunately, many organizations do not know what to do to address this change.

We are taught early in life that “what’s on the inside” matters, and that it is wrong to judge people for any other factor. This early conditioning oftentimes teaches children to ignore differences, rather than embrace ...