Cultural diversity echoes significance in groups as narrow as our families. Let’s meet a young man of Brazilian decent, his name is Antonio. Antonio was raised in an established, undemocratic, proletarian, hard working middle class family. He meets an all American young woman named Ellen. Ellen was raised in a single parent home. Her mother died when she was eight, her father loved her keenly; but, was away from home much of the time working to provide for Ellen and her three older brothers. Hard though he tried, Ellen’s father did not know how to relate to her artsy free-spirit. As a result, she was provided for monetarily, but more often than not, Ellen was a student of the school of hard knocks.
Antonio and Ellen fall in love. After a few years of break-ups and getting back together they ultimately decide to marry. Through ups, downs and learning one another, they finally begin to settle into the routine of married life. All is peaceful, then finally Ellen and Antonio discover they are expecting! A beautiful dark haired baby boy named Jack is born into their lives. He is their dream, but resolute and defied authority at a young age. When Jack was almost four, along came Sarah. Sarah was a bright eyed, spirited and full of energy, she captivated everyone’s attention; however, she often spoke out of turn like her mother. Quite unplanned, Ellen found herself expecting again when Sarah was one and a half. The baby of the family was Frank. He had red hair like his grandfather. Frank was a passive child, but cried rather easily.
To the world, they were a picture perfect family – everyone was strong and healthy, but all different…. How could this be? Each one came from the same parents. What a challenge for Antonio and Ellen to not only continually learn about each other, but now to learn, lead and maintain peace amongst this new baraid of blessings.
There is a parallel to learn from in this classic family story. Similar to families, businesses also undergo growing pains. Take the story of two successful; driven and talented individuals who unite forces to pioneer a company. They work through oppositions, have challenges, but ascertain to work together. The company continues to develop and hire their first employee.
As time passes the need arises for another employee and another, on and on it goes until the company has advanced to seventeen employees. Each team member comes from different ethnic backgrounds, education levels, strengths and ideas. This diversity gives opportunity for growth in areas the company has never known. Nevertheless, to reap benefits from this team they must discover how to: appreciate others strengths, value ideas, learn from their own weaknesses, respect one another, be open minded to other ways of thinking and unite with leadership. This opportunity could position the company for greatness. However, if the contrary happens and the team begins to disrespect each other, belittle new ideas, become defensive of shortcomings, undermine leadership and are threatened by others strengths – just as in families, the organism will destroy itself. An ancient Hebrew proverb says, “A house divided against itself can not stand.”
Diversity spans from age, education, culture, financial status to religious beliefs. It is not just a cultural challenge we face in order to create unity. Yet, this challenge merits undertaking and learning how to profit from one another. Everyone has something to contribute when given the opportunity.
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