Experts have a clear understanding of the potential advantages that diversity brings to teams and organizations.
APM acknowledges that diverse teams generally outperform homogeneous ones. This correlation is increasingly evident in the performance and financial outcomes of organizations.
Does this align with your personal experience?
In a previous section, you explored exceptional and high-performing teams. Based on your own observations, do you see a connection between diversity and performance? Do teams with greater diversity produce superior work? Additionally, what challenges arise when working in highly diverse teams?
We are genuinely interested in hearing about your experiences and thoughts regarding these questions in the discussion section.
In my opinion as a person undergoing this project management course and also referring to my experience in my present work place (though we’re on standby now) I believe team diversity greatly enhance performance.
Firstly, because of individual professional differences everyone in the team will like to show case his/her skills in team to promote self esteem. Naturally, everyone usually want to be praise or reckon with or applauded while working with others which they don’t know. I call impression trait in every man. I remembered, when seven of us were deployed from different state to man the operation of our Datacenter, because we don’t know each other abilities and skill everyone was putting efforts to show his ability to the work and that boosted the performance of the team.
Secondly, everybody have this notion of leadership agenda embedded within. And so in diverse team where nobody who is who, there are tendencies where everyone wanting to show off by working hard so that he might be chosen as the team leader. This scenario also help the performance of the team positively.
Thirdly, the fear of being adjudge inefficient and ineffective and demotion in the midst of unknown people enables individual striving to meet up expectations and working hard to maintain his/her position in the team. This also affects positive performance of the team.
I will also submit that the strength of a diverse team is on the increase geared towards achieving the goals and vision of the project in order to gain recognition and appreciation.
One challenge that may happen in a diverse project team is lack of cohesion among team members. Since everyone is eager to make a mark and face his role there is no interaction mostly at the onset of the project.
As a result relationship between team members is marred somehow and learning on the job become difficult.
With this I believe I have thrown my weight behind diverse team members for effective and efficient performance in any project.
Thank you for the opportunity and privilege in this program.
Yes in the little project I have worked and lead I have found out that in a complex project that has an uncertain result working with people from different culture, social identity and religion background helps foster a more collaborative work environment and ensure optimal project delivery and output.
Diverse teams incorporate rotation of role while working on a project
Diverse teams promotes rotation of roles when trained. while working on the project and this diverse team brings more idea to the table based on their knowledge, skillset and experience.
In all the output of diverse teams are more efficient, in comparison to a homogeneous team.
Diverse teams promotes rotation of roles while working on the project and this is dynamic.
Diverse team yields immense benefits based in different perspective, experience, diverse skills and knowledge.
Diverse team do outperform homogeneous team.
The diverse team consciously or unconsciously want to do their best to prove that they can work together and achieve result though they are from different “clams”
OLUWABUNMI FAVOUR ADEWALE
Relationship between diversity and performance.
According to research and my experience when I was working with Fintribe Finance Fair for women, this is an event where women from part of Nigeria 🇳🇬 comes together to learn about investment, saving and building their financial capacity. I was the team lead for ushering department, we had to solicit for volunteers who can work with us on this project, fortunately many women came on board. Many of us haven’t met before never seen each other before but I was able to communicate our plans and vision with everyone on the teams, sincerely the outcome was Commendable, even though we experienced some unexpected challenges but we are able to solved them and the project was a great success.
Key points are diversity enhances creativity and ideas.
It’s open you up to some innate problem solving skills that you are not aware of.
It’s gives confidence and ability to relate with different people from different works of life.
In all it’s enhances productivity.
Relationship between Diversity and Performance
Numerous studies have shown a positive correlation between diversity and performance. Diverse teams tend to:
1. Foster creativity and innovation: Diverse perspectives and experiences lead to novel solutions and approaches.
2. Improve problem-solving: Diverse teams can identify and address a wider range of problems.
3. Enhance decision-making: Diverse teams make more informed decisions, considering multiple viewpoints.
4. Boost productivity: Diverse teams can divide tasks more effectively, leveraging individual strengths.
Challenges of Working in Highly Diverse Teams
While diverse teams offer many benefits, they also present challenges:
1. Communication barriers: Language, cultural, and personal communication styles can lead to misunderstandings.
2. Cultural and social differences: Different values, norms, and expectations can cause conflicts.
3. Power dynamics and biases: Unconscious biases and power imbalances can affect decision-making and team dynamics.
4. Integration and cohesion: Diverse teams may require more time and effort to build trust, cohesion, and a shared sense of purpose.
Strategies for Success
To overcome these challenges and capitalize on the benefits of diverse teams:
1. Establish clear communication channels: Encourage open, respectful communication.
2. Foster a culture of inclusivity: Promote empathy, understanding, and respect for diverse perspectives.
3. Provide training and development opportunities: Help team members develop cultural competence, conflict resolution skills, and emotional intelligence.
4. Encourage active listening and feedback: Create a safe, supportive environment for sharing ideas and concerns.
IGWE RUTH
Of course yes,diverse teams are better than homogeneous in terms of experience and knowledge.