Why Diversity In the Workforce Is Imperative Workplace diversity ensures that there will be more than one way to look at a problem.

By Gabriel Bristol

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Shutterstock

To remain relevant in the competitive world of business, diversity is crucial to the success of a company as it can support businesses in continued growth and prosperity. New companies are emerging every day, and in order to stay ahead of the curve, it is important for business leaders and employees to come together and create a diverse workforce environment. Ultimately, diversity breeds innovation, which helps businesses achieve goals and tackle new challenges.

Related: A Culturally Diverse Workforce Could Be a Boon to Your Business

As the CEO/president of an ever-changing customer service solutions company, I wholeheartedly believe in the importance of forming a diverse workforce with people of all ages, ethnicities, marital statuses and more. After just three years in my current role, I have seen positive outcomes from our effort of instilling diversity; in fact, the company has grown to 500 employees and has doubled its revenue to nearly 20 million this year and we attribute much of this success to our employees and their diverse backgrounds.

Through my life experiences that have ultimately helped bring me to where I am today, I am able to recognize that a diverse workforce with people, cultures, skills and personality, fosters fresh ideas and perspectives. I respect the fact that people are unique in their own way and that these differences are generally a good thing in the workplace.

Related: 4 Ways Diverse Teams Can Boost an Employer's Brand

I have witnessed the four advantages below from having a team that comes from different places and has unique backgrounds:

  • More often than not a company's customer base is diverse and having a diverse workforce subtly acknowledges and respects this fact.
  • People have different ways of analyzing and confronting challenges. Workplace diversity ensures that there will be more than one way to look at a problem and in turn more than one way to solve it. In short, diversity fosters creativity.
  • Recruitment is less challenging when you look far and wide for the best talent.
  • Diversity in the workplace ensures a varied and stimulating work environment, which is great for morale and retention.

Business leaders are understanding more and more the importance of a cohesive, collaborative and creative work environment and luckily, are acknowledging that this can be done most effectively with a diverse workforce.

Related: How Diversity Helps Your Business Beat the Odds

I am a firm believer that diversity facilitates connectivity amongst employees and business leaders. With the help of my colleagues, I have created an environment that appeals to the experiences of all, which has been proven by the high employee retention rate and increased bottom line. Taking the time to embrace and make positive use of diversity will only strengthen your business endeavors and take your company to the next level.
Wavy Line
Gabriel Bristol

President and CEO of Intelifluence Live

Gabriel Bristol is president and CEO of Intelicare Direct, a customer-service solutions company in Las Vegas. He has been involved with turnarounds of several large corporations as well as helping to establish startups.

Editor's Pick

She's Been Coding Since Age 7 and Presented Her Life-Saving App to Tim Cook Last Year. Now 17, She's on Track to Solve Even Bigger Problems.
Lock
I Helped Grow 4 Unicorns Over 10 Years That Generated $18 Billion in Online Revenues. Here's What I've Learned.
Lock
Want to Break Bad Habits and Supercharge Your Business? Use This Technique.
Lock
Don't Have Any Clients But Need Customer Testimonials? Follow These 3 Tricks To Boost Your Rep.
Why Are Some Wines More Expensive Than Others? A Top Winemaker Gives a Full-Bodied Explanation.

Related Topics

Growing a Business

Sam Fonseca of Roll-Em-Up Taquitos on Simplicity for Successful Restaurants

Interview with Roll-Em-Up Taquitos COO Sam Fonseca about the power of social media, adjusting for customer expectations, and keeping Mama Karen's legacy alive.

Leadership

How to Get Unstuck From Stress and Find Solutions Inside Yourself

Executive coach and author Susan S. Freeman discusses finding a healthy problem-solving mindset in her new book, 'Inner Switch: 7 Timeless Principles to Transform Modern Leadership.'

Business News

California Woman Arrested For $60 Million Postal Service Scam

Lijuan "Angela" Chen faces two charges that each carry a maximum sentence of five years in prison.

Business News

A Wegmans Employee Allegedly Stole Over $500,000 from the Company

Alicia Torres pleaded guilty to crimes carried out over nine years while working at Wegmans in Webster, New York.

Business News

Apple Just Unveiled Its VR Headset. What You Need to Know.

The Vision Pro is Apple's first major product launch since AirPods.