Deliberate Diversity Bill Parker

Deliberate  To carefully weigh or consider  To study  To do intentionally; on purpose

Diversity  The condition of having variety  The inclusion of different people in a group or organization  To leverage differences

We want to study and purposefully create an environment where differences are recognized, understood, appreciated, and leveraged.

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What if everyone in the National Weather Service was just like you; what kind of organization would we have today?

SR 2007 and 2009 Comparisons SR 2007 and 2009 Comparisons

“The diversity that's truly important for creativity and innovation is not solely focused the color of someone's skin or their choice of religion or their gender. The diversity that matters is how they see the world, their experiences, the skill sets they bring to the situation, and the way they think. “ Unknown

“I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.” Martin Luther King Jr.

Why Make Diversity Deliberate?  To increase the talent pool and use the full capabilities of all our employees.  We need to identify with our customers, including the need to understand and communicate with them in terms that reflects their concerns.  Diverse teams produce better results.

Deliberate Diversity  Deliberate Diversity creates opportunities. Our diversity strategy and plan is to purposely create opportunities to differentiate our organization from the competition.

Deliberate Diversity  Deliberate Diversity has to be a personal responsibility. What it is my responsibility? Yes!!! We all play a significant role. (Executive leadership, managers, shift supervisors, and support personnel)

“Be the change you want to see in the world” Gandhi

Deliberate Diversity  Deliberate Diversity places its focus on its existing employees and its customer base. Minorities and women should not be the only focus area.

Deliberate Diversity  Deliberate Diversity challenges exclusivity and promotes inclusivity. It is about creating a culture where every employee (each individual) can thrive and contribute to your organization and understand and serve the increasingly diverse clients with excellence.

“Never forget that everything Hitler did in Germany was legal.” Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Deliberate Diversity  Deliberate Diversity forces us to expand our minds, to raise our standards, and to rewrite or change outdated or bad policies and laws.

Deliberate Diversity  Deliberate Diversity forces us to see the reality. Look at our workforce and clients today and compare…have there been any changes in our workforce or our services? Reality nudges an organization toward change.

“If nothing don’t change; then nothing want change.” Robert Willis

Bill Parker Senior Meteorologist National Weather Service Shreveport, LA Wrk Cell