Leadership Diversity & Inclusion Statement

 

I want to start by saying that diversity for me is the inclusion of making sure that everyone regardless of race, gender, religion, or sexual orientation is someone that deserves to be a part of the group. The modern problem of always finding “what is different amongst people” is an issue that is present at any event. This needs to shift to “what do we have in common”. This type of mentality takes someone that is happy to work with all types of people. The benefits outweigh the negatives of not including everyone, the incorporation of different beliefs and backgrounds is something that makes sure that any final product can be presented in different environments and be given attention. The lack of incorporating different backgrounds limits and cuts off certain people from wanting to get behind a point. A diversified team allows for more people to input ideas and make a difference that fares well with everyone.

An example of when I noted the lack of action of including others described by Role Congruency Theory was when I was in Scouting. I was nearing the end of my scouting involvement at the end of my senior year and summer, and the transition to involving girls was becoming more concrete. I noticed that a girl was placed in charge of running an exercise. The boys disregarded her as a leader because she was being loud, annoying, and controlling, and it was really disturbing. It was a true testament that girls in scouting were going to be pushed aside for a while till it became normal and made me realize that if the boys just stopped making it a big deal and just followed her directions the exercise would have been completed quickly and without a problem. When applying this lesson in a real-world situation II think that something that could really help is that classes and lessons on inclusion and diversity should be taught at the beginning of a new batch of hires at a job. This would ensure that everyone is on the same page on how no one should be excluded and rather everyone should be included.

If I could see a specific type of society emerge I would like to see emerge as one that focuses on the long-term orientation rather than the short-term. This type of society would be one that is more inclined to want to focus on the long term, sacrificing short-term gratification for the goal of a better state that will come in a while. The reason I would love to live in this type of culture. A type of culture that is focused on the long term, and end goal happiness and bliss is better. When we are young we should be grinding and working hard, and it should be the time that we enjoy the little things, but everything shouldn’t be all fairytale happiness. Grind it out and work for that long-term peace.

If I could have another type of society that could not be the long-term orientation I choose a society that focuses on individualism. This would be a society that focuses on the individual and eliminates or barely applies the concept of group goals.  I would moderately like this type of society because as much as I like talking to people and working with people, I really enjoy the simplicity and peace that embodies someone who works as an individual. The reality of not having to deal with others every day and rather only when absolutely necessary sounds like a society that is fully capable of sustaining itself and makes for a more appreciative atmosphere for what everyone has accomplished.