Last week we started a series about art by examining how we can paint over our mistakes.  This week is about mosaics, diversity, and inclusion.

Mosaics are beautiful pieces of art that have always fascinated me, because you combine things, but you never blend them.  The mosaic is made of several small pieces, and each piece has its own individual integrity, shape, design, color, etc.  At the same time, the individual pieces are part of a larger whole.  Each individual piece has its own role to play in creating the larger picture.  The images in this blog post are of the mosaics my wife made on stepping stones that lead out to our garden. #marriedup

What does this have to do with anything?  Mosaics are an example of what true inclusion should look like.  A mosaic is made of pieces that maintain their individuality, while also contributing to the larger picture.  Mosaics don’t blend.  Mosaics don’t require all of the individual pieces to assimilate.  Making a mosaic requires the creator to understand the piece and where it can fit in a way to add to an image that is larger and more beautiful than the piece can be on its own.  We should all strive for this as we build cultures and teams.

Have you ever been on a great team where you truly felt included?  What caused you to feel that way?  In my case, I’ve felt this way when people have seen me as the individual I am, valued that, and at the same time helped me see my role in something larger.  Those teams and situations always give me joy, engagement, and the fuel I need to get through anything.  Have you ever experienced the opposite?  I have.  I’ve been in situations where my individuality wasn’t valued and where the expectation was to blend in with everything.  I’ve been in situations where all of the members on the team were individuals, and we were never part of something.  At best this was exhausting and at worst this was often toxic.

The challenge: How will you build teams and culture like a mosaic?

Have a jolly good day,

Andrew Embry