Much is said about DIVERSITY in companies. But, what is the true diversity that can bring so many benefits to the corporate environment?
People coming from different backgrounds, cultures and experiences contribute a lot with new ideas and, with this, they can build more effectively the sustainability of companies.
Skin color, gender, sexual orientation, and people with special needs today dominate the spectrum of what we mean by diversity. All these groups contribute to creating a more comprehensive and creative culture, however, we understand that inclusion should be extended to everyone who has difficulty getting a placement because of diverse prejudices.
Within this category, there is a group that is constantly overlooked in the selection of candidates and could be inserted as another group in the diversity category: professionals over 60 years of age.
These professionals have a lot of experience within companies, have experienced a lot, have gone through many projects and have witnessed significant changes over the time they have been in a particular company. They are often pushed aside, even forced to leave certain positions upon completing a certain age.
It can be argued that these professionals have had their professional chances in the past and that, if they receive special treatment, they could harm the chances of those who are beginning to climb the first steps of their career.
But at the same time, they are individuals who carry a great deal of life experience and professional knowledge. That is, to leave aside or even to dispense with all your load of knowledge and experience is to waste talents and stimulate prejudice against the elderly. So where is the diversity in this case?
The term diversity encompasses a broad concept, which should not be associated with just a few minorities, as we are currently witnessing.
It sounds cliché to say, but what really matters is not age, skin color, gender, or issues of a sexual nature. It's finding the right person for a certain position.
That person doesn't have to be the smartest, the most talented, or the most sensitive or courageous. Just put together a set of features that make it ideal for the mission.
"It doesn't make sense to hire smart people and tell them what to do; we hire smart people to tell us what to do," Steve Jobs.
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