Diversity consciousness

Diversity consciousness, a term coined by Dr. Richard Bucher in his textbook, Diversity Consciousness; Opening Our Minds to People, Cultures, and Opportunities, Pearson, 2010 (3rd Edition). refers to the understanding, awareness, and skills that allow us to engage and leverage diversity. Diversity refers to all of the ways in which we are different, including race, gender, language, sexual orientation, social class, leadership and communication styles, age, and ethnicity. Consciousness reflects a mind-set that is necessary to build bridges and create opportunities among people and cultures. In his book, Diversity Consciousness, Dr. Bucher introduces the subject of diversity consciousness and its importance in our private and professional lives. Skills such as leadership, communication, and teaming, are dependent on the individual's ability to engage and apply their diversity consciousness in a variety of social settings.
Developing diversity consciousness is a lifelong, incremental process that requires an ongoing commitment to learning. Developing diversity consciousness can be broken down into six areas: 1) examining ourselves and our worlds, 2) expanding our knowledge of others and their worlds, 3) stepping outside of ourselves, 4) gauging the level of the playing field, 5) checking up on ourselves, and 6) following through.
Diversity consciousness includes the development of skills including communicating, problem-solving, working in teams, leading, and managing conflict in diverse settings.
Diversity consciousness provides the means necessary to acknowledge, assess, and deal effectively with potential barriers to success by changing the way people view and respond to diversity. Diversity becomes potential waiting for realization.
http://diversityconsciousness.com

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