Over recent years, everybody became a diversity expert and ‘good ideas’ are spreading fast – even when they are based on false assumptions or have adverse effects. Also in the gender area people reproduce myths and overlook empirical insight. #IWD2021
Editorial
133 article(s)
Leaving the Introversion (20>>21.b)
Diversity acknowledges the human factor in professional and business processes, aiming at improving outcomes for people and organisations. The human mechanism of introversion requires special attention these days. Specifically including in D&I.
D&I can provide the purpose that makes the difference (20>>21.a)
Faced with a crises, people and systems tend to focus on what they truly care about. This, however, assumes that a deeper purpose exists in the first place and is shared. D&I can offer a strong shared purpose – if it goes beyond numbers and initiatives.
Will D&I benefit from covid-19 – or suffer?
Solidarity everywhere and an incredible boost of flexible working. Many believe that covid-19 causes the long-awaited transformation at work and that key people will feel differently about individual work arrangements in the future. This may be wishful thinking…
Why Heidi Klum harms Diversity just as BlackRock or Head-hunters do
This moment, when you discover a trend and you feel it deserves to be promoted by your fame and authority. The next day, everybody else tells you the trend started 20 years ago and you were always part of the problem.
Focus on Impact: D&I fully revamped
The longer you work in D&I, the more difficult it gets to innovate. It may feel as if you have already considered everything. That’s why it took us 3+ years to revamp our entire approach to D&I. The result offers you innovative, international, intelligence-based D&I.
Start-ups: Blindflug als Geschäftsprinzip
Für neu gegründete Unternehmen, vor allem mit digitalem Geschäftsmodell, galten etliche Jahre lang überschwänglich positive Vorannahmen: Chancengerecht, multikulturell, innovativ, flexibel. Nun zeigen sich andere Realitäten.
Latest examples: Fighting Nationalism with Comedy or Science
Many current Nationalist movements base their ideas on ethnic, religious, geographic or linguistic commonalities. Simple considerations can debunk many of them. However, in the discussion each party has become more and more creative in defending their ideas. Here are two intriguing ways to put Nationalism on the spot: comedy and science.
The themes of our time
The German conference of Tagessspiegel and Diversity Charter has become one of the household events for German diversity practitioners. The organisers see this as a mandate not only to present current trends, but also to offer an appealing mix of methods and a broad range of topics. With success.
Google Memo Discussion misses the point
A google employee was fired for spreading harmful stereotypes about women – ten pages long. The following discussion revolved around freedom of speech and existing (gender) gaps in the tech industry. Surprisingly, there was little refection about how D&I did not reach large, mainstream audiences over the past years.
Vereinbarung und Unternehmenskultur: Von großen Worten zu starken Taten?
Kein Event und keine Broschüre zum Thema Work/Life, bei denen nicht die Unternehmenkultur als Schlüsselbereich beschwört wird; ebenso die Vorbildfunktion der Führungskräfte. Die konkrete Gestaltung dieser Elemente bleibt jedoch weitgehend unklar und damit unerfüllt. Unterschätzte und unerwartete Barrieren behindern die wirksame Umsetzung.
Seven Changes that make your Gender Equality work impactful, accepted and valuable
Hundreds of leading women at the World Women Leadership Congress in Mumbai filled the large ballroom with stunning expertise and vibrant engagement. The only panel of that day, 17 February, discussed a delicate question: The invisible dynamics of gender bias. The only man on the panel, Michael Stuber, shares his top recommendations from 20 years of experience in advancing Gender Diversity on the occasion of International Women’s Day (8 March).
How D&I leaders should be D&I role models and work more with the mainstream majority
For twenty years, D&I was demanding inclusive behaviour and high ethical standards from dominant groups while running programmes for women and minorities. The analysis shows that this has to be reversed: D&I leaders should role model their ideals and work a lot more with the mainstream majority.
D&I must step out of its own comfort zone
D&I is stuck in routine, generic strategies and a copy-and-paste mentality. This analysis shows how a lack of relevance to the business and too much regulation is limiting the scope and impact of Diversity. A new business focus can bring back the change into D&I and unleash intrinsic energy. Continue reading
D&I could be a powerful alternative to Nationalism – if pitched effectively
It felt as if overnight many achievements of 20 years of D&I work were ruined when nationalistic and post-truth campaigns received support and were partially successful. A root cause analysis shows how badly managed globalisation and virtualisation led to fragile communities. D&I has the power to offer an alternative – but for that, it needs to be re-framed.
Post-truth dynamics in the D&I field and what we should do about it
While the Internet jokes about seemingly silly populist media statements, the successes of simplistic, fact-free campaigns continue to horrify experts, including D&I stakeholders. However, the impact of accelerating post-truth dynamics on D&I is largely underestimated as is the responsibility of Media and ourselves.
Deutschland braucht ein Einwanderungsgesetz – vor allem für das eigene Selbstverständnis
Die BMW Stiftung Herbert Quandt lädt ein und sie kommen: Der Bayerische Innenminister Herrmann und SPD Bundestagsabgeordneter Oppermann. Vor ausgewählten Gästen tauschten sie am 26. Oktober 2016 in der BMW Welt in München Positionen zu einem etwaigen Einwanderungsgesetz aus. Eine Nachlese von Michael Stuber
Sexismus: Ausgerottet, harmlos oder ein Fall für die Gerichte?
Spricht man Sexismus an, trifft dies auf nahezu gegensätzliche gefühlte Wahrheiten: Einerseits gelten schon kleine sprachliche Schieflagen – vor allem am Arbeitsplatz – als unangemessen, andererseits zeigt sich im Internet, im Sport oder in der Werbung unverhohlene Frauenfeindlichkeit. Alles „nur Einzelfälle“ oder Anzeichen eines gesellschaftlichen Problems?
Kulturelle Vielfalt: Kontext ist alles
Welche Dynamik sich zwischen zwei Kulturen entfaltet hängt nicht nur von den jeweiligen (vermeintlichen!) Besonderheiten ab, sondern wesentlich von örtlichen und zeitlichen Gegebenheiten. Dieser sogenannte Kontext ist entscheidend für das Verständnis inter-kultureller Prozesse. Dies gilt umso mehr, als dass sich Werte, Grundannahmen, Normen oder Maßstäbe mit dem jeweiligen Kontext verändern – bis hin zu willkürlichen Festlegungen. Kontext-Kompetenz wird damit zum Erfolgsfaktor im Umgang mit kultureller Vielfalt.
Gender-Krampf: Selbst „Spitzen-Väter“ polarisieren
Zum 11. Mal verlieh die Lifestyle Bakery Mestermacher ihren Preis „Spitzenvater des Jahres“ – diesmal an zwei engagierte Männer. Kanzlerin Merkel betonte in ihrem Grußwort, dass sie eine „Entscheidende Rolle“ in der Gleichstellung spielten. Trotz – oder wegen – des medialen und politischen Lobs: Die Preisverleihung ist heftig umstritten.