As time goes on, more and more evidence indicates that having a more diverse team is a strong indicator of success as an organization compared to a homogeneous team. Diversity of background, race, ethnicity, gender, and beliefs in the workplace undeniably boosts engagement, creativity, and retention, and overall contributes to a healthy culture.
But ultimately, as Believers, we are called to pursue diversity and equality, not just because it is beneficial for our numbers, but because it is what the Lord asks of us. The Bible starts with a clear message about how God has instilled every man and woman with inherent dignity: “So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them” and he commands us repeatedly in the Old and New Testaments to love others as he has loved us, without partiality. This includes ensuring that the people we surround ourselves with and put in leadership represent the whole body of Christ, rather than a small portion of it.
We all like the idea of having a diverse staff, but successfully recruiting and maintaining a diverse candidate pool can be difficult. It would be naive to think that pursuing diversity on your teams is a straightforward process, and it’s something we’re all growing in. Recruiting for diversity can be difficult when your organization or church has historically been more homogenous, and therefore your network tends to be homogenous as well. It takes extra work and commitment to look outside for those who not only would thrive on your team, but would bring something new to the table. Furthermore, it’s critical to identify what barriers may be hindering diversity and equity within your organization that would make it difficult for a diverse candidate not only to be hired, but to thrive and want to stay once they have joined the team.
Are you looking to take the next steps in pursuing Biblical diversity in your team, but don’t know where to start, how to find qualified candidates outside of your network, or how to get your organization to break from its norm? Utilize our free Diversity Readiness Tool now to find out where your team stands with diversity and how you can best move forward. And if you want to move further in seeking guidance, connect with Vanderbloemen today to learn about our Diversity Consulting Practice as well as our Executive Search for Diverse Leaders.
