Kemira

Otso Solhagen

Diversity can be defined in many ways and it can take many shapes. It now has a new theme, an influencing narrative in most companies and industries. Companies of every level are embracing diversity to unleash the power of their people and create better outcomes. In certain industries and companies, the topic has been highlighted for a long time, while others now rush to spread the word and infuse new organizational behaviors to recognize the phenomenon. However, embracing diversity is much more than rainbow-colored key chains and social media posts.

It is often stated that a diverse group of individuals come up with better solutions to complex scenarios. Different perspectives and opinions may not always speed up the decision-making or ideation process but can result in a better outcome. At times, it may be frustrating to stand with multiple opposing opinions or options. Digesting opposing opinions may not come easy, even though it can be necessary to map out a greater degree of options and potential outcomes. We often enjoy ideating with individuals similar to us to spin on each other's ideas and find common ground swiftly. That can even lead to new business ventures or projects and fuel the beginning. But with growth and development, the power of diversity can become a necessity, and diverse opinions ultimately lead to better clarity.

“Different perspectives and opinions may not always speed up the decision-making or ideation process, but can result in a better outcome.”

Diversity in the working community and organizations is important in daily operations and development. Many people might have professional networks, local or online communities, and other connections that can unleash inspiration and create ideas. Social media communities are full of new, exciting contacts, and while exploring new avenues, forging your existing contacts can be powerful. Mentoring and learning from others who have "been there" can be substantial in terms of role modeling and learning from their knowledge. For solving challenges at hand, it can be great to have someone going through the same things to help each other, create confidence, and inspire. The realistic possibility of that, ofcourse, varies depending on the role in the organization and competitive advantage, but functional roles can sometimes spar each other with a lower threshold.

What I find fascinating is to spar HR topics with HR counterparts and other leaders from  similar and different industries and types of businesses to expand my cognitive horizon and imagination on current and future scenarios. Benchmarking is a powerful way to validate the path you're on or the direction you're planning to take. Doing it with a diverse group of reference points can lead to a broader understanding of the parallel paths and ways forward. Oftentimes, we are facing similar challenges across companies and industries – why not connect and get inspired for even better outcomes?

When did you connect with your former peers to catch up and maintain relationships and use the power of your connections to gain and share insights? There has never been a better time.