Research: Why Forming Diverse Teams Is Harder in Uncertain Times
Widespread global uncertainty in the form of the COVID-19 pandemic, ongoing wars, social uprisings, and rising inflation have led individuals to feel less of a sense of personal control. New research finds that this lack of control can drive employees to seek similarity in coworkers, forming homogenous teams that stifle diversity and innovation. Research involving over 90,000 participants across multiple studies revealed that individuals with reduced control gravitate toward those similar in race, religion, or values, reinforcing predictability but fostering segregation and limiting collaboration. Leaders can mitigate this effect by taking the following steps: 1) Foster psychological safety, 2) establish predictable work routines, 3) encourage cross-functional teams, 4) develop responsive feedback systems, and 5) cultivate individual autonomy.
Recent large-scale events like the Covid-19 pandemic, ongoing wars, social uprisings, and rising inflation have deeply unsettled our sense of personal agency at the workplace. In times like these, how do employees respond to that feeling of loss of control?
