Leading Edge #2: Diversity – it’s not only skin-deep
People make assumptions about you – from your appearance, how you speak and what you say. Pigeon-holing people in this way is a flimsy basis for judging diversity.
Claire Collins, Professor of Leadership, asserts that diversity is really about different thinking and lack of conformity. So what does that mean?
Listen to what Claire has to say about:
- Building the evidence base for diversity to show it works – whether you put a moral or financial value on it
- Dealing with our unconscious biases – and how to become aware of them
- Encouraging and not so encouraging statistics
Claire’s predictions for 2030 are “There will be opportunity for all to work flexibly and not harm their career.” She adds’ “Recent research showed men in heterosexual relationships said working flexibly would be career suicide – but they were happy for their wives and partners to do that.”
“Break the mould of people taking the short-cut of where it’s easier to recruit somebody who looks like everyone else there” – Claire Collins
About the host
Thomas Mason is a BBC reporter with a specialist interest in tech, business and politics. Thomas has a background as a project manager and marketing consultant, and also writes leadership and management articles for LinkedIn Influencers.
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This recording was made between 28.02.20 and 05.03.20.
