Workplace Multiplier by Tola Akinsulire

Friday Edition: December 13, 2024

Welcome to the Workplace Multiplier newsletter. Published every Tuesday & Friday, we discover something crucial to help us on the way to winning at work and in life.

Why Diversity of Thought Matters More Than You Think

Have you ever walked into a room and felt like everyone sounded the same?

I've been there. Twice. And the second time, it happened in a company I was leading. What unfolded was a revelation that would change how I think about team dynamics forever.

We had just completed company-wide psychometric testing. As the results rolled in, a pattern emerged that sent a chill down my spine. Almost every single staff member shared the same dominant personality trait.

Sounds harmless? Think again.

This wasn't just a coincidence. It was a mirror reflecting a dangerous corporate phenomenon: the unconscious bias of hiring people who sound, think, and act just like ourselves.

Imagine a corporate landscape where everyone nods in agreement. Where contrarian views are whispered if spoken at all. Where innovation dies not with a bang, but with a collective, uniform murmur of consensus.

The Corporate Mirror Trap

Here's the brutal truth: When everyone thinks alike, nobody's really thinking.

It's like an echo chamber where ideas bounce around, gaining volume but losing substance. Each reflection looks similar, sounds similar, and feels similar. But similarity is the enemy of innovation.

Remember, breakthrough ideas rarely come from comfortable conversations. They emerge from the friction of different perspectives, the spark that happens when contrasting viewpoints collide.

Your Work Needs Discomfort

Let me be direct. To become better, you need voices that challenge you. Perspectives that make you uncomfortable. Ideas that don't just confirm what you already believe.

This isn't about creating conflict. It's about creating depth.

In my experience leading teams, the most transformative moments happened when someone dared to say, "Wait, what if we approached this differently?"

Those are the moments that separate good teams from exceptional ones.

The Uniformity Trap

When everyone shares the same traits, you risk:

•    Overlooking critical blind spots

•    Reducing creative problem-solving

•    Limiting your collective potential

•    Creating an environment where groupthink reigns supreme

Your organization becomes a mirror reflecting the same image, over and over again. Predictable. Safe. Boring.

Breaking the Echo Chamber

So how do you combat this?

1.  Actively Seek Different Perspectives Invite voices that sound different. Think different. Challenge different.

2.  Create Psychological Safety Build an environment where people feel safe presenting contrary views without fear of ridicule.

3.  Intentional Diversity I'm not just talking about demographic diversity. I mean diversity of thought, experience, and approach.

4.  Listen Actively Don't just hear different perspectives. Truly listen. Understand. Consider.

The Challenge for You

Ask yourself: Are you only listening to voices that sound like yours?

Are you surrounding yourself with people who confirm your existing beliefs? Or are you brave enough to welcome perspectives that challenge them?

Your work doesn't just get better by doing more. It gets better by thinking differently.

The Multiplier Mindset

Every perspective is a gift. Every different view is an opportunity to expand your understanding.

Diversity isn't just a corporate buzzword. It's a strategic advantage.

Your Call to Action

Start today.

•    Seek out the quiet voices in the room

•    Welcome the ideas that make you uncomfortable

•    Create space for different thinking

💡 Want to transform your team's thinking? Share this post. Start a conversation. Challenge the status quo.

Remember: Uniformity can be the enemy of excellence.

Keep multiplying what you have been given in life.

As always.

Tola Akinsulire

I am a Workplace Multiplier

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Want to get in on some of the lessons I have picked up in my career? Get my eBook "21 Lessons I Learned in My Career - A Primer to Help You Become Better at Work". Get it here

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