One of my favorite tweet chats is #leadfromwithin, moderated by Lolly Daskal @LollyDaskal. Every week between 800-1,000 people participate in the Tuesday chat, which ends up reaching about 2 million people. Amazing!
Last week the chat’s theme was Diversity. Lolly usually has 10 questions that organize the chat. There was so much good material running through the stream that I decided to have a "Diversity Week." I will be sharing a daily posts this week with the crowd wisdom about seven of the issues that were discussed. Today I'm sharing some of the responses people gave to the first question:
What is diversity?
Q1: #Diversity is all of that makes us unique and similar; including ALL aspects of our identity and who we are #leadfromwithin
— Tanya (@TMODOM) July 18, 2012
A1 Diversity is acceptance, not tolerance. It embraces all. #leadfromwithin
— Dr. Emelia Sam (@EmeliaSam) July 18, 2012
Diversity creates dimensions in the world #leadfromwithin
— Lolly Daskal (@LollyDaskal) July 18, 2012
A1. Diversity is the unification of different people, elements or creativity being brought together to serve one. #leadfromwithin
— Maria Portas (@MariaPortas) July 18, 2012
A1 Diversity is a mixture- thought, perspectives, ethnicities, backgrounds, etc #leadfromwithin
— Martina McGowan (@MartinaMcGowan) July 18, 2012
A1: Diversity is the result of our individuality. #leadfromwithin
— Jackie Bernardi (@JackieBernardi) July 18, 2012
“Strength lies in differences, not in similarities” ― Stephen R. Covey #leadfromwithin
— Lolly Daskal (@LollyDaskal) July 18, 2012
A1: Different perspectives, backgrounds that are brought together to collaborate as one unit #leadfromwithin
— Jen Olney (@gingerconsult) July 18, 2012
Diversity is a survival factor for the world to exist#leadfromwithin
— Lolly Daskal (@LollyDaskal) July 18, 2012
All the diversity, all the charm, and all the beauty of life are made up of light and shade.L Tolstoy #leadfromwithin
— Vala Afshar (@ValaAfshar) July 18, 2012
A1. Diversity is contrast. Differentiatesyou from me and us from them, mine from yours. #leadfromwithin
— Dr. John Grinnell (@leedership) July 18, 2012
Diversity = organizational innovation and productivity = profitability. HEA! #leadfromwithin
— Ande Lyons (@AndeLyons) July 18, 2012
A1: Diversity is power, strength, & joy when aligned to vision, values, & goals. #leadfromwithin
— S. Chris Edmonds (@scedmonds) July 18, 2012
Diversity may be the hardest thing for a society to live with & perhaps the most dangerous thing for a society to be w/o#leadfromwithin
— Lolly Daskal (@LollyDaskal) July 18, 2012
Remember. . .
Regardless of what definition you choose, as a leader you need to surround yourself with a diversity of perspectives, backgrounds, ethnicities, and ways of thinking. Diversity will give your business an advantage in innovation, productivity, and profitability plus a richer learning environment for all.
Join the conversation in the comments below and tell us your thoughts about what is diversity.