One of the most valuable benefits of being a partner in a large international consulting firm is the ability to bring many different points of view to clients who are undertaking new initiatives or developing innovative strategies. We bring expertise in strategy and operations, human capital, technology, risk assurance, tax, audit, international considerations, and more.
It took me a while, but I realized that undergraduate interns, newly minted MBA’s, career government workers, mid-level career practitioners, senior executives, credentialed academics, and technical gurus all have valuable insights that deserve attention.
When clients asked me to investigate why their turnover was so high, I frequently interviewed former employees. Many of them said the old guard wouldn’t take any of their suggestions seriously. They frequently heard things like, “We tried that before. It didn’t work.” Or “You don’t understand this organization. We don’t do things like that here.” They became frustrated and they left. In short, they felt the organization did not value diversity of thought.
So, exactly what is diversity of thought? It is the inclusion and integration of different perspectives, ideas, experiences and problem-solving styles within a group or organization. It focuses on how people process information and perceive the world. Different types of diversity include experiential, educational, ideological, and neurodiversity.
When organizations value diversity of thought, they prevent group think (blindly agreeing with authority); improve problem solving (prevent blind spots and risks early); and drive innovation (blended creative and analytical ideas build better solutions).
Now let’s take a brief look at what’s happening in this Administration, an Administration that rejects diversity of thought both in government and the private sector.
First, the Administration fired hundreds of what they called DEI hires. Executive orders banned concepts such as unconscious bias from federal employee training. The Office of Management and Budget restricted federal grants for institutions utilizing diversity programming which created a chilling effect on intellectual thought and independent scientific inquiry.
The Justice Department has proposed new rules that would strip non-profit universities of tax-exempt status for using race-conscious programs, thereby restricting academic freedom, and eliminating discussions surrounding societal inequalities.
At the Department of Defense, Secretary Hegseth has stifled diversity of thought by aggressively dismantling diversity initiatives, filtering promotions through a political lens, and narrowing the institutional definition of leadership. The result: Several high-ranking leaders with irreplaceable experience have been purged, delayed, or forced into retirement.
Trump has actively ordered investigations against critics and institutions with opposing viewpoints. He has targeted law firms that handled cases adverse to the President or that promoted policies that the Administration opposes. He has encouraged the FCC to pressure media companies, threaten broadcast licenses, and target specific journalists and late-night hosts he deems critical of the Administration. Last week, Trump barred CNN, MSNOW, and Politico from the White House. He said he didn’t want them in MY office.
The Administration has moved to terminate visas for international students involved in anti-Administration or pro-Palestinian advocacy.
In these days of rapid change, advancements in AI, and political unrest, diversity of thought is more important than ever. It’s frightening to think about what could happen when leaders of our country all walk alike and talk alike, especially when their qualifications are questionable to begin with.
Remember George Orwell’s novel 1984? Its central theme was the danger of absolute government control over human life and truth.
Malcolm Forbes once wrote, “Diversity is the art of thinking independently together.” I couldn’t agree more. I love hearing opinions or observations that never occurred to me. It makes life much more interesting. Plus, widening the aperture is always a good idea.