Diversity in the Business World
Stephen Brookfield is a distinguished scholar in adult education. In his book, 'The Skillful Teacher,' specifically in chapter eight, he delves into the escalating diversity within classrooms. According to his definition, diversity encompasses a broad spectrum of differences among students, including variations in academic readiness, racial and cultural identities, motivation for learning, and learning preferences. Brookfield also emphasizes that this multifaceted diversity goes beyond demographics to include factors such as learning styles, abilities, and individual experiences. As an instructor with a business background, I resonate with this diversity concept, recognizing its sensitivity and significance for the business world.
Diversity is an issue in organizational training programs. Organizers often overlook the importance of carefully arranging course participants. Encountering both experienced and inexperienced participants in the same course is not uncommon. These participants may have different leadership styles, expertise levels, and, sometimes, ethical considerations.
Diversity in the business world extends beyond classrooms and plays a crucial role in shaping a dynamic and innovative professional landscape. Daily challenges or issues are opportunities for learning and growing, as they are a part of on-the-job training. Coaching and mentoring are great tools for turning those problematic cases into excellent learning opportunities. The overall performance of those short, unplanned training sessions is also strongly linked to how one handles diversity. I primarily engage with those programs and learning opportunities as a project management professional and instructor.
Diversity is an undeniable reality in the business world. Instructors and leaders must acknowledge and address this multifaceted diversity beyond classrooms and develop a strategy and approach to handle it effectively. Brookfield discusses some methods that can be helpful not only for instructors but also for business professionals, such as team teaching, grouping students strategically, and incorporating diverse teaching modalities. The author also acknowledges the inherent challenges and limitations in achieving complete inclusivity but underscores the value of continuous adaptation and collaborative teaching approaches, which inspires any leader or manager.
Globalization and economic, sociological, and geographical challenges impact the demographic structure of countries and contribute to diversity. Therefore, Brookfield's observations, insights, and approach to diversity are not confined to the classrooms of the business world but extend to the entire business ecosystem, considering learning as an ongoing process in our daily lives.