As we begin this week’s TRIPLE III TIME message, we need to make sure our understanding of the term “DIVERSITY” is consistent with Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary and Roget’s New Thesaurus. Here are their definitions:

• The condition of being different or having differences (Webster)
• The quality of being made of many different elements, forms, kinds or individuals (Roget’s)

So as we discuss this week’s topic: DIVERSITY… More Today For Tomorrow, be sure to keep these definitions and meanings in mind.

I believe it is future critical to infuse diversity into your self, employees, co-workers, organizations, educational institutions, business, and community. What do I mean? No, I’m not talking about diversity in terms of race, religion or gender. Instead, I am promoting maximizing your diversity in terms of the work-based professional services or products you generate everyday… EVERYDAY.

For example, if I were interviewing candidates for any staff position, today I would prioritize their skill diversification. How skilled are they in technology, sales, innovation, communication, management, recordkeeping, marketing and yes even leadership? Too often we assess people in a limited way and thereby ignore the potential add-value capacities for their/your organization’s future.

Likewise, in evaluating the strengths and weaknesses of any private or public organization… do we spend appropriate positive time considering:

• Their condition of being different or having differences (or)
• Their quality of being made of many different elements, forms, kinds or individuals?

Having workers and organizations that exemplify DIVERSITY…. More Today For Tomorrow, will be a key planning/development strategy.  Take a look around you.  Are your employees “pigeon-holed” in their capacity to contribute?  Is your organization entrenched in a “one size fits all” service/product structure?

New-age progress will be measured based on this type of employee/organizational skill diversity.  How will you be ranked?