I write this week on something with a very specific South African flavour.
On Thursday 18 April 2013, the Commission for Employment Equity Annual Report for 2012-13 was issued. I will just cite just one statistic: whilst white people constitute 11.3% of the Economically Active Population, they occupy 72.6% of top management positions. For a country that is almost 20 years from the date of its first democratic election to create a non-racial society, this report is a graphic reminder of both the legacy of apartheid as well as the patent refusal of South African business in particular to embrace diversity at all levels, and implement their own policies which were meant to transform the workplace. This promotion of diversity would not just be for the benefit of those historically disadvantaged, but would contribute to social cohesion and decrease the racial inequality that can be a source of instability. It is to this workplace environment that a lot of young Black and female aspirant professionals enter, and is the focus of what we write about today.
Over the past few months I have interacted with a number of these young people who have to deal with challenges of discrimination and lack of progress in the workplace. For many of these young people, who were really hopeful that their corporate experience would be much better than the previous generations, their current experience leads them to despair, powerlessness, anger, despondency and, tragically, hopelessness. Having only schooled and joined the workplace after the formal end of apartheid, they have to deal with situations of discrimination that they never anticipated and their education and training did not prepare them for. How does one realise their potential in such circumstances?
Like anything in life, the easy route is one of giving up, feeling that the world is not fair and simply too powerful. However, it is during such moments of great difficulty that the human mind can be very creative. Their predecessors successfully fought a powerful state that used detention and assassination to silence those fighting for their rights. They faced something worse than what these young people currently experience. Those people would have had the courage to fight, knowing the fruits of freedom would be worth the risks that had to be taken. And they did.
But courage was not the only thing that mattered. It was the use of appropriate strategies and tactics to realise what was a just victory. Drawing on these very useful lessons, we can say that both as individuals and as a group of professionals there is something that they can do about this situation.
The first and most basis lesson for me is that you must never suffer in silence. When one begins to verbalise their concern, they find many willing supporters, discover the existence of change agents, and also may find ways in which to influence the direction of their companies. Through being vocal in a disciplined way, people can create moral dilemmas for companies to start practicing what they preach. Realising the strength and potential one has to cause change, there could begin a series of steps that can cause the situation to be better, not just for those who are currently experiencing such challenges, but indeed for future generations. And lastly, the individuals should continue to invest in developing further their knowledge and experience. Competitive factors in the market will make those companies who embrace diversity attract the best people, and the ones that are maintaining the status quo will find it difficult to complete for talent. Despite some seeking to discriminate against you because of race or gender, there are some who will value you for your knowledge and diversity.
My real message is that unless one faces such discrimination head on, there is no possibility of showing your potential. Display how special you are because of what you know and how you execute your work. Without being reckless, one needs to show the necessary tactical skills to help influence change.
It is a difficult world, but one that needs to be challenged for it to change for the better. Not just for us, but generations to come.
