--- title: Diversity & Inclusion:  How to Get it Right description: Herb Johnson discusses the challenges of harnessing the power of diversity as a super power for making good business decisions. Join the discussion. --- [![HVJ Logo](https://www.hvj.com/hs-fs/hubfs/HVJ%20logo_141x71.png?width=110&height=71&name=HVJ%20logo_141x71.png "HVJ Logo")](https://www.hvj.com/) ** [ Let's talk ](https://www.hvj.com/contact-us) ** ** Geotechnical Engineering Soil, rock, and groundwater conditions at every site are different. We assess the specific site conditions and design earth structures (slopes, channels, and dikes), foundations (retaining walls, bridges, buildings, tanks), and subsurface structures (clarifiers, lift stations, buried utilities, tunnels) to economically achieve the specific project objectives. Learn More → Construction Materials Engineering & Testing Construction material performance is key to the function and durability of any project. 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Learn More → Search **Menu** ** ** [![Let's Talk](https://hubspot-no-cache-na2-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/cta/default/5496911/6233d0db-c76c-4678-9152-08331c17b6f1.png)](https://hubspot-cta-redirect-na2-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/cta/redirect/5496911/6233d0db-c76c-4678-9152-08331c17b6f1) ![](https://www.hvj.com/hubfs/Diversity%20Work%20Team%20-%20Weave.jpg) [Blog](https://www.hvj.com/blog/tag/blog) | 2 min read # Diversity & Inclusion:  How to Get it Right Written by [HVJ Associates](https://www.hvj.com/blog/author/hvj-associates) September 7, 2021 ##### As a manager, how are you managing the struggles of diversity in your team?  # Herb Johnson, Founder & CEO of HVJ Associates # ![Herb 2](https://www.hvj.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Herb%202.jpg?width=210&name=Herb%202.jpg) Your ability to effectively deploy the talents and skills at your disposal for the growth of the larger organization is vital. With it, you can serve customers more effectively and magnify your personal chances to deliver outstanding results, yet, it comes with mind-boggling challenges. As such, in[ The CEO Magazine (June 2021 Issue)](https://www.theceomagazine.com/executive-interviews/engineering/herbert-johnson/), I acknowledge that diversity can be '*problematic if not managed efficiently.'*  Further, '*problems are a sign of life,'* and the relationship you have with problems is something that clients and employers pay for. It’s valuable if you can help them with their problems”.   Here, I want to briefly offer some proven tips for managers to effectively *harness the power of diversity* in their teams for heightened problem solving ability.  **Positioning diversity to match company’s mission**  How people view diversity in an organization matters. For example, does your company see diversity as merely a way of appeasing various social and cultural groups? On the contrary, positioning diversity and inclusion as requisites for real business growth has a huge positive impact on the organization. But truly, how can diversity be a business* need?*  You can discover new, better ways to serve your clients when diversity is viewed as a powerful decision making resource. Internally, you can build a stronger workforce culture by empowering employees to speak up and initiate the difficult conversations that bring about the best solutions. And in our business of engineering public infrastructure, lives are on the line if we don’t get this right.   **Multi-level ignorance**  Ignorance isn’t stupidity, and even the smartest people are ignorant of some things. On many fronts, managers and employees can be ignorant of the value of a diverse team for the variety of perspectives they bring. And remaining ignorant, doing nothing about it, can have a catastrophic effect on employees and ultimately, the company. For example, there’s a psychological term called selective attention that I find quite interesting-- it’s where your brain will only allow you to see or hear things that support what you already believe, a/k/a your perspective. So, anytime we have any operational problems or internal challenges in delivering value to our clients and stakeholders,  you can bet I want to ensure we have a diversity of perspectives.   With an arsenal of varied perspectives, a manager can soar above their existing beliefs to arrive at more creative and better solutions. Better decisions are why diversity is not just important--it's vital.  *As a manager, how are you managing the struggles of diversity in your team? What challenges are you facing currently? * *Express them in the comments, and I won’t hesitate to offer my two cents.*    Previous Story [← 5 Questions With An Expert: Syed Jafar](https://www.hvj.com/blog/5-questions-with-an-expert-syed-jafar) [** ](https://www.hvj.com/blog) Next Story [HVJ Associates® Selected for Mountain Creek Relief Interceptor  Project →](https://www.hvj.com/blog/hvj-associates-selected-for-mountain-creek-relief-interceptor-pipeline-project) ## You May Also Like These Stories on Blog [![](https://www.hvj.com/hubfs/Central%20Pump%20Station%201.jpg) ](https://www.hvj.com/blog/announcement-opening-of-whcrwa-central-pump-station) [Blog](https://www.hvj.com/blog/tag/blog) ### [Announcement: Opening of WHCRWA Central Pump Station](https://www.hvj.com/blog/announcement-opening-of-whcrwa-central-pump-station) June 30, 2026 | 1 min read [![](https://www.hvj.com/hubfs/Process.jpg) ](https://www.hvj.com/blog/powerofprocess) [Blog](https://www.hvj.com/blog/tag/blog) ### [The Power of Process for Managing High-Volume Requests](https://www.hvj.com/blog/powerofprocess) June 19, 2026 | 2 min read [![](https://www.hvj.com/hubfs/ENR_TL2023LOGO_500.jpg) ](https://www.hvj.com/blog/hvj-wins-repeat-enr-top-500-design-firms-award-for-2026) [Blog](https://www.hvj.com/blog/tag/blog) ### [HVJ Wins Repeat ENR Top 500 Design Firms Award for 2026](https://www.hvj.com/blog/hvj-wins-repeat-enr-top-500-design-firms-award-for-2026) June 3, 2026 | 1 min read ## No Comments Yet Let us know what you think #### HVJ Associates, Inc. 6120 S. 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