A Rich Mix of People =
High Performance & Success

The World Cup just closed out last weekend, and ‘La Furia Roja’ took home the trophy for the first time in its history.  Spain, as a nation, is very proud of their team and their incredible accomplishment.  But more importantly, we should look at where the World Cup was held this year- South Africa.

20 Years ago, it would have been unheard off to have an event like this in a country torn apart by internal conflict, and one of the most oppressive systems in the world, apartheid. 

It was only after the release of the great Nelson Mandela that the country was united, and its entire people came together as one, making it the great nation it is today.   The diversity of its people makes it a rich country, not only in natural resources and minerals, but in its human capital and innovation. 

Cultural diversity in the workplace has become an important consideration for organizations and hiring managers today. A staff composed of people from different cultures and backgrounds is beneficial for an organization to be able to compete in global markets— the world is flat, and economies extend way beyond our borders.

Company’s often look for well rounded candidates, who can contribute not only from a technical standpoint, but who are creative, and bring different perspectives and ideas to the table.

For branding and marketing purposes, it is critical for organizations to share the views of their constituency; and there is not a more authentic way to share a value system, than by having a diverse mix of employees, who can help shape a company’s internal and external culture. 

There is also the opportunity for healthy competition within a diverse workforce.  As candidates and existing employees understand that the opportunity for growth exists, they will work hard as individual contributors, and will push the company forward to achieve great success. 

It is not always easy to bring together folks from different cultures— there are certain sensitivities that may seem challenging to surpass, but once people get to know each other, I can say that we are all looking for the same things: friendship, respect, compassion, professional growth, recognition, and rewards for a job well done, all while contributing positively to the greater good of the organization.

And like ‘La Furia Roja’ and South Africa, given the right circumstances, the long, hard road to success, will pay off…