What does diversity mean?
Whether in interactions with colleagues or when counselling clients: Every day we meet people with whom we have a lot in common, but who are also different from us in many ways. The things we humans usually have in common: We have the same basic needs, we all need to sleep and eat, for example. And there can be overlaps with other people, such as professional qualifications, membership of a faith community or leisure pursuits. But each person is also characterised by their own personal background and individual interests, preferences and abilities. People are not always able to deal with this diversity and difference; sometimes they are overwhelmed and do not know how to react and act appropriately. This can lead to conflicts that can affect cooperation and place a heavy burden on everyday working life. Seminars and training courses on the topics of "intercultural competence" and "intercultural communication" can help to sharpen the view of people with other cultural and social backgrounds and provide participants with rules for interaction characterised by mutual respect.
The diversity dimensions according to Gardenswartz and Rowe
The "4 Layers of Diversity" model according to Lee Gardenswartz and Anita Rowe shows a multitude of different features that characterise people. A distinction is made between the internal dimension, the external dimension and the organisational dimension. The organisational dimension refers specifically to organisations and companies. The circle model clearly illustrates which characteristics are hidden behind the dimensions. Each person has several of the features. The different characteristics can overlap and also influence each other. What does this mean for people’s everyday work? The model shows that a variety of areas of potential and skills are available within the workforce or the work area. In this way, employees with different levels of knowledge and talents can complement and support each other in their activities. However, if differences are not reflected and valued, this can lead to problems within the workforce or towards the customers.