Career Success in a Diverse Workplace

Career Success in a Diverse Workplace

Sponsored by the IREM® Diversity Advisory Board chaired by Mary Butler, CPM, Houston, TX.

A full house was treated Wednesday morning to a rich and insightful discussion of diversity that ranged from practical advice to personal stories to advice on how to help your business prosper and your career advance.

Panelists Jay Windsor, CPM, Broward County Florida Port Authority, George Griffin, CPM, Houston Housing Authority, Michelle Wong, Ideal Properties, Honolulu, Hawaii.

Moderator Jae Roe, CPM, ACoM, of First Potomac Management, Chesapeake, Virginia, incoming 2012 Diversity Advisory Board Chair, opened the discussion with the deceptively complicated questionWhat does diversity mean to you?

All panelists agreed that diversity goes beyond the early definitions focusing on race and gender. Diversity means acceptance, respect, and understanding of all differences ... and truly celebrating those differences. Don’t deny the differences and pretend everyone is the same. See the differences and embrace their unique values. It shows itself in being inclusive and welcoming.

Michelle Wong gave us glimpse of the culturally diverse streets of Hawaii and how the many cultures impact the retail market in terms good and services available in Hawaii that cannot be found on the mainland. Jay Windsor echoed her comments with his own observations of the diversity of the Miami area where he said 60% of the population was born in another country. George predicted that within another two generations, the Houston area which is now 1/3 African-American, 1/3 white, and 1/3 Hispanic, will be a Hispanic majority.

The subject of quotas and affirmative action came up in a question from the audience. All panelists agreed that if a business creates a solid foundation of fair hiring practices and employee policies, like domestic partner benefits, and builds on that foundation with a welcoming, inclusive workplace and the “numbers” will take care of themselves. The company will naturally attract the best workers of all ethnicities and lifestyles and backgrounds. On the flip side of the question, as a personal career observation, the panelists encouraged employees to take jobs where they had strong competencies and not to take the job offered as a diversity slot. Focus on performance. Help the bottom line in the private sector, provide high level service in the public sector. Shift the attention from perceptions of others to your real value as a member of the work team.

With the pressures of the economy and the scarcity of jobs, George observed that there may be a tendency for companies to hire people where there is already a relationship or people who are similar to themselves. In this scenario competency becomes even more important. Be twice as good as the other person. Get that extra degree, license, certification. Adversity will always be there; racism has a long history. George’s viewpoint is not to get caught up in it – “attitude is everything.”

Diversity is likened to a rainbow, George observed, and we all know what’s at the end of the rainbow – a pot of gold. Companies that embrace diversity and differences among employees, clients, and vendors are more successful, will see their revenues increase, and see their services improve.

All panelists agreed that IREM is diverse just by the nature of the fact that IREM embraces all property sectors and career levels. It is that diversity that makes IREM unique among real estate management associations. On a personal level as well, the panelists found IREM to be a welcoming community and making advances in building a more inclusive membership and leadership. The panelists challenged the audience to spread the word of what they are experiencing at the national meetings at home. Moderator Jae Roe encouraged the audience members to host a similar panel discussion at their chapters to engage more members in the dialog.