Every year I revel in the striking beauty that is autumn. This weekend I especially experienced the glorious colors displaying nature’s color palette, enhanced by the sunlight. The deep reds, the vibrant oranges, the lively yellows, the array of greens, and the earthy browns formed a collage of colors showing a bountiful variety. Together they demonstrated the beauty of fall.
The palette of colors is what makes the change in seasons spectacular. It’s the combination of the colors what makes autumn beautiful. What if the red said to the yellow, "I don't need you"...what if the yellow said to the brown, "There is no place for you"...what if the brown said to the green, "You're not necessary"? We would have not fall colors!
You should keep this in mind. It applies to people too. Are you as excited about the variety of personalities and preferences of the people around you? Can you appreciate the differences, or do you see them only as a cause of friction and annoyance?
In an organization, it’s the unity of talents, gifts, personalities, and, yes. . . even colors, what creates a unique and superior brand. Each person is part of the overall masterpiece. The differences aren’t a problem. They are part of the amazing explosion of creativity. The problem is our perception of the place differences play.
Remember. . .
You can choose to see differences as beautiful, as an opportunity to enrich your own mind. Or you can refuse to even notice how variety can energize and bring the freshness of cooler air.
You can gather the flitting colorful ideas, or you might not wake up until the opportunity for innovation and growth has passed you in a swirl of falling leaves.
You might take advantage of the diversity of thought to strengthen your place in the market, or you might not wake up until all the leaves have hit the ground, and only useless dry ideas and old cliches survive.
I prefer to enjoy the wide variety of colors both in nature and in people! Do you?
Do you know how to optimize the diversity already present in your organization? Can you take advantage of the creative energy of the swirling emotions that an interchange of diverse ideas brings? I can help you learn how to better work with diversity with the energy that dialogue can bring to your team and organization. To find out how, contact me today!
Photos by Dr. Ada