Finding comfort in discomfort

Not only do we welcome diversity of thought, opinion and experience at Advantage Solutions , we need it.

It’s my first summer as CEO here, and I’m just beginning to wrap my arms around how wonderfully diverse our 70,000-strong workforce is. Not just diverse in the color of our skin, our birthplace or our religion, but in our gender, sexual identity, lived experiences and perspectives.

A workplace that values diversity, that operates with equity and is inclusive to all, is not just good for its culture and its people, it’s good for business. Study after study has shown that having diverse talent at the decision-making table not only improves employee morale, it enhances companies’ bottom lines. And most importantly, it’s simply the right thing to do as it ensures that people are seen and see themselves in positions of influence.

Welcoming new ideas, doing things differently and seeing the world through a different lens are all things that can cause discomfort. But I view that as critical to an organization that is both learning and growing. Openness to change is not only necessary for growth, but it’s also the spirit on which this company was founded. Our founder, Sonny King, famously used to say, “There’s always a better solution.” To me, this means that we need to be open to the “other” idea, the thought or perspective we don’t understand or expect. And finding that better solution — a new and better way forward — requires us all to embrace discomfort and allow it to be our greatest teacher.

At Advantage, I’m grateful to be surrounded by great leaders who share this perspective. And we’re all learning together to find comfort in discomfort. Read my full post on how we’re approaching leadership at Advantage.