Why diversified voices in a team are important 

Diversified workforces are becoming a major requirement for those weighing up job opportunities – how does working in a diversified team benefit your business? 

CREDIT: This is an edited version of an article that originally appeared on Robert Half

The perception of a perfect team is often one that connotes unity, with shared direction and opinions – this is, however, not always beneficial for your business or project. Research by Forbes indicates that employees thrive in environments with innovative thinking which will, in turn, create larger financial gains and growth for the company. 

Furthermore, a diversity-focused article published by LinkedIn this year states that only 24% of job seekers do not see a diverse work environment as a requirement when weighing up job opportunities. 

Diversity makes us push boundaries 

If you’re working on a project with a team that does not question your decisions and ideas, the project may not achieve something ground breaking or explore its highest peak. Diverse opinions create a challenge which can be resolved through creative and innovative means and test the limitations of a team or an idea. 

Teams with diversified attitudes to work have been proven to decide on pathways up to 60% faster than homogeneous groups and employees benefit from the assurance that their opinions are valuable and respected which can enhance the work environment. 

Creating an environment where an employee feels comfortable enough to voice a contradicting opinion is the responsibility of a team leader and those in higher positions. Creating a company culture that acknowledges and promotes innovation will ensure that employees feel more at ease to share ideas. It’s important to stay positive and encouraging, even if an employee’s idea is not suitable – aim to help them to see how to improve their idea so that they can better evaluate future situations and tailor suggestions.