Hi Leaders,
Here’s a data point that should stop you in your tracks:
According to Harvard Business Review, teams with high cultural diversity are 35% more likely to outperform their peers in revenue.
They don’t just come up with more ideas…they get to better solutions faster.
So why don’t more leaders harness that advantage?
Because our brains crave comfort. We gravitate toward people who think like us, act like us, and affirm us. That feels safe. But in leadership, what feels comfortable is often the enemy of what’s effective.
Neuroscience shows that when a perspective challenges us, our brains initially react with discomfort. That tension can feel like friction, but it’s actually the spark that ignites sharper thinking, stronger solutions, and smarter decisions.
Think about Encanto. The Madrigal family didn’t fall apart because they lacked talent. They stumbled because they stopped seeing and valuing one another’s unique contributions. It wasn’t until every voice was heard…even the misunderstood ones, that the family thrived again.
The same is true for your team. Diverse voices don’t just “check a box.” They make you faster, more resilient, and more innovative. But only if you create the systems that ensure differences aren’t just tolerated, but trusted.
This month’s challenge for you:
Take five minutes and audit your “go-to” circle.
Who do you instinctively turn to for insight?
Whose perspective is missing…and why do you think that is?
What one system could you strengthen so those voices are included and valued?
Now here’s the bottom line:
If your leadership can’t handle difference, it can’t handle scale.
If everyone around you looks like you, thinks like you, and agrees with you…you’re not leading a high-performing team. You’re running a low-performing cult.
Leading people who are not like you, isn’t charity.
It’s strategy.
It’s the force multiplier that will carry your team into the future.
This month’s reflection is just the starting point. In my next newsletter, I’ll show you how to move beyond awareness and build the systems that turn differences into a true competitive edge. You won’t want to miss it.
To leading with courage and clarity,
Stephanie
