Just The Facts
JTF#106 - CEO Update
The importance of celebration and acknowledgement of all the things we do is one key to success and a positive legacy...
September is an amazing month: Spring; the start of new life and new chapters; new growth on plants; animals seem to have a renewed energy; and in the Southern states of Australia the sense of a new season with warmth in the air. Nature seems to celebrate a new beginning and rewards us with a beauty that is there for all to enjoy in colour, smell and feel.
It is easy to take for granted the most precious things in our worlds: people; nature; our environment; and human achievement, at all levels. It is too easy to fall into our ‘roles’...the expected place we sit in our world...the normal and comfortable.
When we do see something that takes our breath away, it is usually something that is not a normal part of our everyday life. Yet there is capacity everywhere for this to happen if we are open to it, sometimes it small things that impact greatest.
In my time at Diversity@Work I have had the wonderful honour to witness some amazing stories about diversity and inclusion. For me it is hearing stories such as the start-up trials and tribulations of an executive who is taking the bold brave steps to introduce diversity into a hostile environment; or an organisation that is grappling with its future, trying to gather support from its suppliers to ‘enable’ its strategy of diversity and inclusion; or a group of youth who want to make a difference to their community by removing discrimination and making all things more accessible; or finally of an individual who has not accepted their expected ‘role’ and takes responsibility to contribute to the empowerment of others, often at their own personal expense.
Often many of these initiatives and actions go unnoticed and unrewarded. Like the beauty of nature these things will happen whether we see them or not.
But what a loss for us! Not to see and benefit from the sharing of these stories and the wonderful achievements and, at times, the mistakes and failures. Celebration and acknowledgement not only rewards those who have succeeded in the achievement of something special, it also pays respect to those who are attempting their challenge.
Like the many who attempt the climbing of Everest, it is often said that the experience gained and the memories dearest are of the failed attempts to achieve the summit and honouring those who paid the ultimate price in their quest.
I think celebration and acknowledgement also provides a wonderful moment of clarity and enables us to stop and take a breath and reflect on our own achievements and challenges.
The Diversity@Work Awards is one opportunity for organisations and individuals to seek recognition and acknowledgement for initiatives and activities around diversity and inclusion...where we can bring together some of the most amazing stories of achievement of those who have realised the benefits and power of having a diverse, inclusive workplace and community. This gathering of so many incredible people: our judges; our nominees; our sponsors; our guests who want tickets to join us on the gala night; our very special guests, Sir Bob Geldof, Mr Tim Costello, Mr Graeme Innes and many others, are a testament to how important diversity and inclusion and non discrimination is for us all in business...and is testament to how important many of us feel about celebrating and recognising what is wonderful about people and their human endeavour.
We are constantly challenged by the things we see in our businesses and world that are not inclusive and, at times, are discriminatory and against the principles of human dignity and freedom. We often feel helpless when we see the actions of our employers, employees, community leaders and world leaders who, at times, demonstrate values that do not match our sense of what is right.
Outward celebration and acknowledgement is a powerful, rewarding and inclusive way to send a message to all of what we value and wish for and finally, it provides a great learning ground for us all at every level.
We encourage you to be open to recognising some of the amazing things happening in your business or community...to really see your diversity and inclusion initiatives, whether in full bloom or just starting to bud. No matter where you are in your journey, we urge you to have the courage to step above the ‘comfortable’ and nominate for the 2008 Diversity@Work Awards. As an opportunity to benchmark your journey, celebrate your achievements, or simply share our passion for inclusion, the experience will be personally and commercially valuable. Nominations close on Friday 26th September, so you have plenty of time to prepare.
We look forward to receiving the nomination from those of you who are ready...and to seeing all of you on Thursday 13th November to celebrate diversity and inclusion for all in our workplaces and communities and to make the 8th year of our Diversity@Work Awards celebrations truly amazing. For more info visit: www.diversityatwork.com.au/awards
Yours in Diversity,
Mark Heaysman
Topics: Diversity, News item