Through the many amazing and sometimes trying experiences I have had while being an exchange student to the States and as well as many of my other adventures, has taught me that every person has different skills even if it is just to look at a problem with a different perspective

The major challenge in facing diversity is that people are very much against change or ‘anything’ different. Whether it is the way someone looks, the way they speak, or the culture they come from, one often forms a negative opinion of a colleague.  This negative opinion will inevitably affect the work environment and therefore on the overall work results.

Through sharing a variety of experiences, sometimes humorous, I will show you how a man with bright blue long hair or a team of people who can hardly understand you, can become a very important part of a person or a company achieving dreams or goals. 

Diversity is very often essential for growth and achieving outstanding results. Therefore, the only real challenge should be managing diversity, and the sometimes inevitable conflict arising from diversity.  If this process is done correctly anything is achievable

An example of how diversity leads to ownership of a challenge, a client of mine in the manufacturing sector, was faced with a challenge.  For their new financial year their demand had doubled and management were out of ideas of how the required production increase would be possible.  I was approached present my life as a physically challenged person and to get some ideas from the workers as to how they saw the way forward.

Sharing my thoughts with the staff of all levels as to how I have been able to achieve all my challenges both in the work environment and not being afraid of people who look at challenges from different perspectives.  Immediately this was the start of a culture of understanding and therefore a willingness to tackle the challenges as a team.  Splitting into their production teams the staff were able to come up with plans that they were able to propose to management as well as taking ownership to schedule for the various steps in the plans.

The teams have since started implementing the plans they presented to management and each team owns their process, production and staff pride has increased.

Although this particular example was achieved over a workshop it serves to illustrate the positive effect working with diversity can have on the results of a company