deepstash
Beta
The Importance Of Network Diversity
Network diversity
Our networks are usually formed around shared experiences and they influence the way we see the work, how we think and the opportunities we give and receive.
So a lack of diversity inside our networks can propagate inequitable systems and create echo chambers of perspectives.
104 SAVES
SIMILAR ARTICLES & IDEAS:
3
Key Ideas
Diversity & Inclusion
There is a significant relationship between competitive profit gains and diversity.
Companies with gender, ethnic and racial diversity are at least 15 percent more likely to experience above-average financial returns.
5 Lessons for Managing D&I
- Recognize the Shift in Global Understanding of D&I. Diverse thinkers come from a variety of different backgrounds.
- Build an Inclusive Environment. All people are encouraged to draw upon their unique experiences, perspectives and backgrounds to advance business goals.
- Use Multiple Practices and Measures. Have solutions in place to monitor and retain a talented and diverse workforce.
- Ensure Leaders Model Diversity and Inclusion. It sets the tone for the rest of the organization to follow suit.
Recognize the Connection Between Innovation and D&I. Diversity and inclusion increase innovation and reduce business risk.
Cognitive Diversity
The concept of cognitive diversity focuses on diversity of thinking and is composed of four dimensions:
- Perspectives. People represent situations in different ways
- Interpretations. Through diverse interpretations, teams can discover multiple resolutions.
- Heuristics. People resolve issues in different ways.
- Predictive models. Some analyze, and others look for a story. Both are useful for discovering workplace solutions.
13
Key Ideas
Network Effects
Network effects are the unseen forces that are guiding our destiny and exerting a powerful intervention on our lives, creating energy that escorts us down a path that is not always fully our intention.
90 percent of these network forces are established in 7 major life events or crossroads, which compound over time: Our Family, High School Network, College Network, First Job, Marriage, Our City, Reassessments.
Zipf's Law
Zipf's law is a mathematical probability that states that in a given set, the most frequently used data value (or word) is used twice as often as the next most common value. This is true in various statistical sets like income distribution in companies, internet traffic, phone calls received, and language.
One of the implications of this law is there are unconscious network forces and mathematical patterns governing our lives, with human beings just being nodes exchanging information.
Dinner Party Mathematics
When six to eight people are conversing at a dinner party, it is easy to focus on one conversation, but if the number is higher (say 15), then two-way conversations are more likely.
When groups get larger, the change is exponential, not linear, affecting one's social experience.
4
Key Ideas
Social Narrowing
Social Narrowing is a subconscious process in which we are spending time with people who are similar to us.
This phenomenon can be a problem when we need new resources, ideas or a new career.
Change Your Filters
- When we meet people, we look at them and subconsciously make a decision in our heads about their importance, relevancy or their being of any interest to us.
- The challenge is to fight these filters and invite people in your life who are of the least interest to you.
- Identify and connect with people whom you wouldn't normally connect with, adding diversity to your social universe.
People We Don't Reach Out To
The lower your socioeconomic status is, the less diverse are your social networks, as we choose to reach inwards for advice, instead of outwards.
The tweak to apply here is to reach out and ask for advice with the network of people whom you normally will not connect with. Remind yourself of your strengths and values, if you feel intimidated by wanting to take advice out of your comfort zone.