The Diverse Pond
A Diverse and Thriving Ecosystem diversity and inclusion reflection in times of quarantine
My reflection began with a family Zoom call. Thanks to quarantine, we finally found time to have regular group family chats. They are not planned, scheduled and we don’t necessarily talk about anything in particular. We managed to replicate a virtual living room, some are talking, some are listening, with chitchat about what’s going on in our daily life. A luxury we don’t normally find time for in non quarantine times, with family spread across time zones, too far for a quick pop over visit and usually only calling when there seems to be a reason.
On this particular call, we found ourselves listening to my brother and uncle discuss my brother’s pond. The new fish he bought and whether or not he needs some sort of aeration tool. My uncle says with confidence, if you want the fish to stand any chance of surviving you need to aerate the pond. He starts to explain all the technical details of pond aeration. Details, all the ways one can aerate a pond, types of tools, the importance of measuring, the benefits it brings, and so on. It was so much information I stopped listening. I interrupted, when did you become an expert on pond aeration, I asked in amazement of his detailed aeration knowledge. I studied it when I tried to build a pond, failed, and found all the fish dead. We paused, and then they went on discussing.
I wake up the next day, having also somehow processed new information about pond aeration. I start to reflect like I do on most new ideas, first thing in the morning. After a cup of coffee I started thinking, it’s amazing how much time is spent on analyzing the pond and making sure it’s the perfect environment for the arrival of new fish. In this long detailed discussion, not much, if anything, was mentioned about the new fish in the analysis. They only spoke of ways the pond could create the best environment to ensure the best survival rate of the new fish. I sat there wondering, what if we approached diversity and inclusion the same way?
Let’s think about corporations as ecosystems, because ecosystem is the new buzzword, and how it operates in regards to current diversity and inclusion efforts. In this ecosystem we have a pond of similar fish. They look alike, speak the same language, and carry the same observed traits attributed to success. On average, the only diverse fish that survive and thrive are forced to over adapt. They manage cultural fit and start to be observed and seen like the fish in the sea of similar fish.
In this ecosystem, tools, trainings and programs are designed with ways to adapt to the organization. Why not analyze the corporate ecosystem in a scientific way, like a pond, determine the ways our organization can adapt to diversity and the differences it brings.
What if we stopped trying to change differences? What if we just accepted them? Like we do with new fish. If new fish need a certain oxygen level to survive, we design a tool to adapt the pond.
We don’t continue to pick fish that require the same level of oxygen. Because that would end in a pond full of fish with the same color, size and shape.
Like nature’s ecosystem, if we want a pond full of beautiful, colorful, diverse fish, we need to start analyzing the organization and find tools to adapt to differences. That way each of our differences can coexist and contribute to a thriving beautiful diverse ecosystem.
