When you think of superhero teams like the Avengers or the Justice League, their diversity is one of their biggest strengths. Each member brings unique abilities and perspectives to the table. The Hulk never tries to be Thor, and Aquaman doesn’t attempt to outrun The Flash. Imagine how ineffective and boring a team of just Incredible Hulks would be!
In corporate America, diversity is often talked about, but it’s not retained. It seems like the goal is to turn everyone into the same mold, like Dilbert from the comic strip. While Dilbert can be funny, I’d prefer the dynamic and varied Powerpuff Girls any day. Each character’s individuality makes the team stronger.
During my time in the Army, I ran the Engineers Section Shop. We had three different Military Occupational Specialties (MOS) in that shop, but mostly we fixed generators (52D MOS). If you weren’t busy, the Army found something for you to do. There was one guy who loved doing details and hated his MOS tasks. I was happy to assign him details because it made him happy and the shop ran better when everyone did what they naturally enjoyed. Also Most people hated detail.
It's silly to think you can make everyone good at the same things and perform those tasks in the same way. Just because something has traditionally been done a certain way doesn’t mean it’s the only way to do it. If we always stuck to tradition, we wouldn’t have running water, electricity, or computers today.
Batman and Wonder Woman might approach the same task differently, but that doesn’t mean one is right and the other is wrong. Batman also doesn’t require the rest of the Justice League to dress like him. Similarly, in the workplace, we should value each person's unique strengths and approaches.
Embracing diversity in skills, perspectives, and approaches leads to better results and a more vibrant, effective team.
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