So, when did DEI actually begin?

So, when did DEI actually begin?

Well, it’s certainly been a minute. Or, closer to 75 years if we’re being accurate. Did Roger Birkman invent diversity? Of course not!

But he did promote that people are better off, more productive, more well-rounded when they surround themselves – and interact with – people who are clearly different than themselves. But the diversity he talked about (he didn’t even use that word) was the difference of PERSPECTIVE. After all, a Red wants to get things done as quickly as possible, while a Yellow prefers to get the plan all ironed out before beginning. If a Blue has what he feels is a good idea, the Green wants to know if they can get a group to follow the new idea.

I’ll be honest, more than once when working with my colleague, I’ve been ready to change direction or jump on a new idea when I’ve not done all my due diligence or even wrapped up the task I was working on. My co-worker says, “Hey, wait a minute. There are some things we need to know first. What about this and what about that?”

It reminds me that we truly are better off with different opinions and individual outlooks, so we don’t have blind spots. While differences slammed together with no intention can cause confusion and conflict, it’s our Mindset that sees the potential in differences. If we have the stubborn mindset that Our Way is the only way – you’re right, diversity equals conflict and lack of followship. But if we can pause for a magical moment and take a second look – without judgement – we might actually learn more.

I like to think that Dr. B (Roger Birkman) knew that diversity was something we could all

benefit from. Not so much the External kind: age, gender, ethnicity, ableness, education, etc., but the Internal kind. How we look at situations, our preference for ways to do things, what we expect from others, and the perfect work culture to build. And that’s what Birkman measures. And, lucky for us, reports are out so that we can compare and contrast and – most importantly – TALK ABOUT – so we can learn to be better TOGETHER.

So if you want to talk about diversity, talk about how we think and process, and expect things differently from one another. Then we can encourage differences ON PURPOSE.