Diversity in the Workplace

At Love & Co, we have an incredibly diverse network. Our team is made up of dedicated people who have the passion to succeed and add real value to our business with their unique skillset – after all, that has always been our mission when it comes to seeking people to join our team.

With an outstanding cross-section of genders, ages, nationalities, religions, ethnic backgrounds, education and abilities, our team embodies a family-like culture and great attitude that allows everyone to achieve exceptional results. We embrace differences and always look for ways to support each member to reach, if not exceed, their full potential.

And now we’re incredibly proud to have recognised for this with our network being nominated as a finalist in the REB Women in Real Estate Awards 2021 for Diversity Boutique network of the year!  ?

This award recognises the boutique independent group that demonstrated the best balance of gender diversity and commitment to the progression of women within the company. This is an achievement we are so excited and inspired by. Diversity has always been important to us at Love & Co – we strive for each and every woman in our network to feel empowered, understood and encouraged.

And it’s proof that gender diversity in the workplace is more than just a hiring fad: empowering women through equal opportunity has tangible and explicit benefits.

Diversity in the workplace has been a hot topic in business circles for many years now.  And since it’s something we promote, we’ve decided to take a closer look at what it means for Aussies.

Is Diversity the same as Equality?

No. Equality in the workplace means that all employees are given the same opportunity to succeed. Diversity goes one step further and means that the differences between personnel are fully appreciated, and the different characteristics are made the most of.

What is Diversity and Inclusion in the Workplace?

Put simply, diversity means an equitable representation of personnel of different genders, races, and backgrounds within the business.

Stepping back a few generations, it was largely the men that were the breadwinners: Dad went to work, and Mum kept house and looked after the kids.  Today’s business world looks very different – in February 2021 it was estimated that 47% of all persons employed in the workplace in Australia were women.

Creating a diverse and inclusive culture and embracing members from a wide cross-section of society is a mindset that has been adopted by many businesses across Australia, and in many situations, the results are exceeding expectations.  A gender-balanced workplace environment helps businesses to build strong connections and celebrate role models and leaders, both men and women.

Diversity in the Workplace – is it a Craze or a Competitive Edge?

There’s no denying it: gender diversity and workplace inclusion is one of the hottest business trends in 2021.  But what’s driving this shift in business outlook?  Is it purely an image booster, or are there other benefits in a gender-balanced and inclusive workplace?

It’s about more than just being politically correct.  Businesses that embrace diversity are proving many benefits, some of which are directly impacting on their bottom line:

1. Variety of ideas and viewpoints

Employing women and men from varying backgrounds, age-groups, and cultural circles ensures that your business will have an excellent resource pool of ideas and perspectives.  Embracing differences in experience, education, and skills allows business owners to maximize the potential within their team, especially when it comes to developing and carrying out business strategies.

2. Creativity Plus

A gender balanced and inclusive workforce is guaranteed to be a melting-pot of creative and fresh business ideas.  A team that embraces differences in viewpoints and ideas is set to achieve great heights, with members being prepared to ‘think outside the square’ and come up with new and innovative strategies.

3. Ability to Connect

The ability to connect with customers, suppliers and team members is super important to congenial business relations at every level. Businesses with a diverse team are more likely to be able to build strong and positive connections – a range of personalities and skills will ensure that the business has what it takes to maintain good relationships in each area.

4. Better Hiring Success

A diverse and inclusive workplace is likely to gain a reputation as a desirable place to work. When it comes to hiring, this is guaranteed to work in a business’ favor because it’s likely to attract top talent.

5. Improved Decision making and Problem Solving

It’s not rocket science: people think differently and a team’s ability to solve problems and make decisions is a direct reflection of the information processing skills of the individuals. A study conducted by The Harvard Business Review found teams that are cognitively diverse solve problems faster than those that think similarly.

So, back to the home front…

The team at Love & Co is committed to the progression of women in the workplace. We have many incredible women within our team, and we’re proud of each and every one for reshaping the industry and realising their career potential with us at Love & Co.

Congratulations to all finalists of the REB Women in Real Estate awards – we look forward to the announcement of winners in July!