First off, you don't "need" any of them. But, you can benefit from them, if you choose to go in a different direction. You cannot think diverse if you are not diverse, so look around you. Is your organization filled with the people who reflect the kinds of customers you're targeting?
If your answer is, "Absolutely!", then no, you don't need my services. You have just the audience you want. And your customer base will only reflect the kinds of people you see on a day-to-day basis.
However, if you're trying to reach a target market that looks, feels, thinks, and experiences life differently than you, you have to bring those people onto your team. Full stop. You will always fall short if you try to overreach into a demographic that you are not a part of.
Telling people that they need something to change, grow, and be more successful is painful and uncomfortable. I wouldn't steer you any place different. But, I am willing to help you make those first uneasy steps. Something that I wish I had had when I was starting out on my journey to become a more diverse, well-rounded individual.
To start your journey and discover if you need diversity consulting, evaluate these aspects:
Am I happy with our company?
The first step is to find out whether you're at the place where you want to be, both emotionally and physically. When you walk through the door, turn on your computer, or fire up your phone's messaging app, do you feel the way you want to feel about your company? When you answer emails or return calls, do you feel like you're reading from an approved script although you don't really have to? Have you "checked out"? If so, then something needs to change.
Does our customer base reflect what we want?
Again, if the answer to this is "yes", and you're happy with it, there's nothing further you need to do. My company is not for you. But if the truth - no matter how hard it is to admit - is "no", then we can help. You have to tackle this hurdle, first, before going forward.
My company is diverse, but it's not on par with our customer ratio. I've had diversity training, opened our doors, but the numbers don't seem to change.
If you've gotten this far, then bravo! You've admitted the first step to the major problem to be solved! Now, all you need is an extra little push... someone to look at your numbers, recruiting methods, and to think like the minority demographic that you're desperate to serve in your area. You've opened your mind. Now it's time to explore unknown territory and get your product into the hands of the people you want to market.
I learned in counseling long ago that the initial step to solving the problems that I had were to see them, and admit that they were an issue. After that, I had to get over the jealously of my advancing peers, the guilt for not being where I wanted, and find the courage to push on despite those feelings.
You don't have to do this alone. Contact us for help.