Ready to chat with one of our experts?

Diversity vs. Inclusion: What’s the Difference?

Many of the concepts of this blog are also covered in the Paradigm Reach learning platform. Sign up here for a free trial.

What is Diversity?

Diversity is the variety of visible, invisible, inherited, attained, or chosen characteristics within a group. Diversity is a term that applies to groups, not individuals. While characteristics like ethnicity, race, or gender identity can sometimes be easy to see, many others are not. For example:

  • Sexual Orientation
  • Religion
  • Socioeconomic background
  • Neurodiversity
  • Education level
  • Veteran status
  • Disabilities (not all are visible!)

What is Inclusion?

Inclusion is the result of an active effort to create the best environment for everyone, where they feel like they belong, and can do their best work.

Inclusion is also the key to unlocking the power of a diverse workplace. When you foster an inclusive culture and promote diversity:

  • Individual employees are more engaged, perform better, and have a greater sense of wellbeing.
  • Teams are more creative and innovative; and
  • Organizations can more easily attract and retain talent.

At Paradigm, we believe there are four key pillars for fostering inclusion: objectivity, voice, growth, and belonging (download our whitepaper for more).

September 29, 2022

If you're interested in learning more about how you can build a more diverse and inclusive workplace, contact us today!