Business diversity -- it's something you can start doing today.

Do the changing demographics of California and the Central Coast really affect your business?  In five or 10 years, will the landscape of business adapt to accommodate these changes?

We say "yes" and we want you, as a SLO Chamber of Commerce member, to have the tools you need to get a head start on this inevitable evolution in business.

To understand diversity in the workplace, let's first take a look at the traditional definition of diversity, and how this definition is being transformed in today's business world:

Webster's New World Dictionary:
Diversity (di- vur -si-tee) n.Quality, state, fact or instance of being different, dissimilar, varied.

New Business Definition: Encouraging and enabling all employees -- whether diverse in ethnicity, culture, age, gender, sexual orientation, ability or in other ways -- to draw fully on their talents and skills for the benefit of the business and in so doing to be a source of competitive advantage. To help businesses more successfully navigate the increasingly diverse marketplace.

Now let's take this new definition of diversity and use it to our advantage in growing our organizations.

The objectives of this kit are outlined in the following pages. First, take the "How Diverse is Your Organization?" quiz to get a measure of the diversity that currently exists in your organization and focus in on the qualities that make up a diversity-friendly environment.

Review the "Top 10 Realities of Diversity in Business" which highlights what the future holds for businesses in San Luis Obispo County and the nation. This section focuses on tangible reasons why your company needs to embrace diversity to stay competitive; the "Top 10 Benefits of Diversity in Business" list illustrates how diversity can play a favorable role in your business's bottom line.

Also included in this kit are lists containing the Top 10 reasons diversity training can fail and also a list of how it can succeed. Use the lists to avoid the pitfalls in this training and incorporate the points for success. It's really that easy.

Included are case studies of local and national companies that have seen the benefits of diversity and have incorporated this into their business philosophy - read these stories and you'll see how the return on investment has made this effort worthwhile.

Finally, you'll find practical information and resource lists that give you the tools you need to successfully transform your organization into a forward-thinking business with a diversity-friendly environment. The "10 Easy Steps" really are easy and will make a difference. And the ideas for measuring results will provide you with concrete methodology for measuring your progress.