Core value · Ethics family
Diversity
Valuing difference in people and ideas
What does diversity mean as a core value?
Diversity as a core value means actively seeking out people, ideas and experiences unlike your own, because a wider range of views usually leads to better thinking and fuller lives.
A room full of people who think alike strikes you as a little dull, and a little risky. Diversity, as a value, is a genuine appetite for difference. You like hearing from someone with a completely different background, career or way of seeing things, because they show you what you’d otherwise miss. It might show up in who you hire, what you read, who your friends are or where you travel. If it’s one of your core values, difference is something you go looking for.
What does diversity look like in practice?
- You look for someone with a different perspective before making a big decision.
- You build teams from people whose experiences differ from yours.
- You read, watch and listen to people whose lives look nothing like yours.
- You ask the person who disagrees with the room to say more.
- You notice when your circle of friends or advisers has become too alike.
When is diversity overplayed?
Valuing difference can turn into collecting it, where people are seen mainly for what makes them different. You might also chase variety of views until a group never finds enough common ground to act. And it’s easy to value difference in theory while finding it uncomfortable in practice. At its best, this value sees whole people and pairs difference with shared purpose. A good test is to look at your last big decision and ask whose different view actually changed it.
Often confused with
Diversity vs Inclusiveness
Inclusiveness is making sure nobody is left on the outside. Diversity is valuing the range of people and ideas in the first place.
Diversity vs Open-mindedness
Open-mindedness is a willingness to consider ideas you don’t already hold. Diversity goes further and seeks out people and perspectives unlike your own.
Diversity vs Curiosity
Curiosity is a wide drive to learn and explore. Diversity focuses that on people: their backgrounds, experiences and ways of seeing.
Questions to sit with
- How similar are the five people whose opinions you trust most?
- When did a different perspective change your mind, and how did you come across it?
- What kind of difference do you find hardest to value in practice?
More values in Ethics
Doing right and treating people fairly.
About the author
Matt Rutherford is a Career and Leadership Coach. The Values Finder is the same exercise he uses with his coaching clients. He also writes Stuff that MattRs, a weekly newsletter with practical ideas to help you think clearer and work better.
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