Back Home Debate™ Is True Diversity

I recently came across an article on BusinessWeek where it speaks truth to the practices of diversity in today's community, organization and workplace. For a long time I have not fully agreed with an author to such great extent like this article on "diversity's missing ingredient." The author agrees with using the competitive advantage of accepting loud arguments to support one's view-points on a team for decision-making. Individuals are allowed to passionately display their emotions to arrive at conclusions even though it may sound like a brawl where each may challenge the other on their intellectual biases and blind spots. Although mean-spirited attacks are unaccepted, building trust is important for each member of the functioning diverse team for this process to occur. As an educator, this sounds like a method for teaching diversity, equity and inclusion in education. Coming back to the content of the article, the author further argues that an outsider unfamiliar with what is in progress would not understand the concept taking place, that is, tapping into the competitive advantage of diversity, inclusion and creativity on a team. I therefore agree with the headline of the article, "diversity's missing ingredient". We have many monolithic teams in the community, organization and workplace that do not tap into the contributions and benefits of diversity.

Having said that, the author's discussion supports my findings from my research titled "Black Women's leadership: Indigenous Knowledges for Empowerment" where the back home debate™ method is important for truly diverse teams. One of the leadership participants I interviewed in my research clearly states that she allows confrontations, arguments and voicing of opinions when decisions are being considered on her team. She identifies the approach like debating back home. Back home is situated outside of Canada. My research refers to the process as back home debate™. Anna as I refer to her, does this so that whenever a decision is made, all members on the team feel true to their contribution where nobody should feel silenced. Therefore, when a decision is made all contributions are considered and no one leaves the discussion and continues with it at the water cooler. This is true diversity and inclusion, not just a slogan or a buzz word in today's working environment. Again, I have to thank the author, Pat Pencioni for agreeing with me on a process called back home debate™.

Dr Marilyn J