What is diversity and inclusion in project management ?

Embracing diversity and inclusion is an important part of project management.

Value is created from difference and diverse teams can bring about higher performance. This is because project professionals and team members from diverse and different backgrounds and cultures are likely to have different experiences and perspectives they can bring to the team and project.

There can also be a strong sense of inclusion and community that is fostered when people of different backgrounds and abilities come together for a common purpose.

As project professionals, we have the opportunity to improve outcomes by harnessing the diversity of the project team, stakeholders and people available.

A positive working environment

When people are working in the same organisation and from the same cultural background, the project professional has the opportunity to embrace the diversity and capabilities of their team. There’s more to diversity than representing a range of backgrounds – it’s also about encouraging a range of perspectives and giving people the space to express them.

A positive working environment happens when:

• people feel they can be themselves at work;
• ideas and respectful challenge is encouraged;
• differences are understood and welcomed

As a project manager, equality, diversity and inclusion are as much about understanding yourself as they are about those around you. A diverse team where everyone is encouraged to bring their whole self to work has the potential to yield brilliant results.

Diversity is a condition that can improve outcomes for project-based organisations. The latest research in Dynamic Conditions for Project Success revealed diversity as a surprise condition that interviewees recognised. Most project professionals identified it as having importance and you can read more about the conditions that enable project success here.

Watch: Embracing diversity and inclusion

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