“How important is team diversity?” It is a common question I receive from leaders. “Very important” is my default response, followed by the encouragement that you should work toward being as diverse as your context. This caveat is essential because building ethnically diverse teams in places like Miami or Orange County is often more feasible than in less diverse regions.
To value differences on a team—not only ethnic ones—is to prioritize organizational strength. A diverse team can build diverse leadership for impact, ensuring that both the staff and those they serve benefit from a wider range of experiences. The collective wisdom and understanding of a group naturally expand as team diversity increases.
Conversely, a team that lacks diversity is a team that lacks perspective. By intentionally incorporating varied backgrounds, you protect your organization from blind spots and foster a culture of innovation. As you construct your leadership group, here are five specific differences to value:
1. Gender
To have a team filled with just one gender is to exclude an important perspective. Surely you have heard it said of some decisions or some communication pieces, “Clearly there were no women in the room on that one.” If both men and women are served by the ministry or organization then both men and women must be on teams that provide care for people and insight into the ministry or organization.
2. Ethnicity
In his providence and beautiful creativity, God has created a plethora of people groups and he is pursuing and populating heaven with people from every tribe, tongue and nation. Each culture gives us a glimpse of our creative God and each culture brings something beautiful and unique to the table. A monocultural team will likely lead a monocultural ministry or organization. Having different ethnicities on a team reminds the team of all the people the team is honored to serve.
3. Background
Our background provides us with experiences, and our experiences provide us with learning. To have a team of people with very similar backgrounds is to have a team of people with very similar life experiences and learning. The broader the backgrounds of the team the broader the collective life experiences and learning of the team.
4. Personality
Our personality impacts how we relate to people, how we make decisions, how we communicate and how we interact with a team. A team filled with people with different personalities is a team that is going to inevitably offer multiple perspectives and bring different strengths to the table.
5. Gifting
God grants gifts to his people so that his people may serve others. No single leader is omni-gifted, but the body of Christ is. A team should reflect the diverse gifts that the Lord gives his people. The team benefits and so does those the team serves.
In ministry, a diverse team is especially beautiful because of the focus the diversity can bring to Jesus. When people of diverse backgrounds unite around something, the something that unites them takes center stage. People wonder what exactly it is that has pulled such different people together. A diverse team of leaders that unite around a shared awe for and commitment to the gospel shows others how powerful the good news of Jesus is to unite.
This article originally appeared on EricGeiger.com and is reposted here by permission.