International Women’s Day gives us an opportunity to reflect on the role of women in the workplace, but of course it goes beyond that. At I4-YOU, we pride ourselves on the diversity within our team, not only in terms of gender, but also in the breadth of skills, perspectives and personalities. Whether you’re male or female, it’s about what you can contribute and how you work together as a team.
There are still (IT) companies that find it exciting to hire women. Often this is because they have never (or hardly) employed women before and therefore do not know what effect this will have on the team. Perhaps you have heard stories or seen situations in others that make you hesitant. For example, consider the well-known prejudice: “In a team with too many women, there is a lot of gossip.” But let’s face it: anything too stands for is rarely good. A team with only men does not always work optimally and the same goes for a team with only women (with exceptions in both cases). As far as we are concerned, it is time to leave the prejudices behind. After all, it is not about whether you are male or female, but about the qualities and skills you bring. So take that step towards a diverse team, it will greatly benefit your team and the organization!
We believe in the power of a diverse team, where both men and women are given equal opportunities and can contribute their unique skills and perspectives. Men and women often approach challenges in different ways, and it is this difference in approach that makes a team stronger. When different views and methods come together, it creates a dynamic that leads to more creative solutions and better results, in our experience. It is that cooperation and combining different ways of thinking that make the difference.
We asked our colleagues about their experiences working on a diverse team, and this is what we got back:
Working together in a diverse team has tremendous benefits. Because we all have different backgrounds and perspectives, we can learn a lot from each other and come up with more creative and stronger solutions. The resulting dynamic makes the work varied and ensures that we complement each other well. This keeps the work interesting and ensures that we continue to develop.
We also find that diversity makes for a pleasant working atmosphere. Everyone can be themselves, and this open atmosphere makes us all feel heard and appreciated. This not only promotes cooperation, but also strengthens the bond within the team. It also ensures that we look at problems from different perspectives, so that no detail is overlooked and we always arrive at smart, well thought-out solutions.
In short, diversity not only makes our work better, but also more fun and creates a team that works well together and supports each other. It creates a fine work culture where everyone can develop and contribute to the shared success.
Diversity within a team is not just a nice aspiration, but a real strength. At I4-YOU we notice daily how a diverse team makes for better cooperation, more creative solutions and a pleasant working environment. What we want to pass on to others is: be open to a diverse team. Having different genders, characters, knowledge and skills makes work so much more enjoyable. By appreciating each other’s unique qualities, you get the most out of your team!
