Do it for the Culture: Embracing Differences

Music has always been part of my life. As a young girl, I remember waking up to beautiful sounds of gospel music, hearing the sultry beats of the blues when I was at my grandparents' house, or bopping my head to soft rock music from the only radio station in our town that mainly played rock and roll. I never minded the genre, I felt the beat and listened to the lyrics. 

(Rather listen, check out Weekly Tea with ARG on the Spared Change Podcast)

Music is a bridge, pulling people together, allowing them to consider perspectives that hadn’t yet been considered or putting aside differences, creating unity. 

What I've come to appreciate is when artists from different genres collaborate to create a number one hit single that pulls the world together. My earliest memory of that was Say, Say, Say with Michael Jackson and Paul McCartney. Embracing their unique vibes created a melody that rocked the charts for weeks! Michael Jackson was an artist that defied odds. He pushed cultural boundaries and made major organizations reflect on how they were including unique voices on their platforms. Take the song Billie Jean, for example. It was the first black artist video to be widely circulated on MTv. Michael opened the door for the voices of other diverse artists. 

When organizations begin to challenge the norms and embrace differences, they create spaces that are innovative and everyone's voice is heard. 

So, I invite you to do it [embrace differences] for the culture! 

In this Weekly Tea with ARG, we will take a few minutes to focus on another foundational element of culture: embracing differences. 

A strong culture isn’t built on sameness. It thrives on diversity of thought, experience, and perspective. Yet, as leaders, it’s easy to unintentionally gravitate toward what feels familiar or comfortable. The real opportunity is to create an environment where differences aren’t just accepted, but valued and leveraged for growth. 

Here are three key questions to reflect on this week: 

1. Do you invite diverse perspectives? When making decisions, do you actively seek out different viewpoints, even those that challenge your own? Inclusion isn’t just about who’s in the room. It’s about whose voices are truly heard. 

2. How do you handle disagreement? A healthy culture doesn’t avoid conflict; it embraces respectful debate. Do you create space for open dialogue where differences lead to better solutions rather than division? 

3. Are you leading with curiosity? Instead of defaulting to assumptions, are you asking questions? Are you taking time to understand someone’s background, experiences, or approach before forming a conclusion? 

This week, I challenge you to practice intentional listening. In your next conversation, whether with a colleague, team member, or peer, pause before responding. Ask yourself: Am I listening to understand, or just waiting for my turn to speak? 

When we embrace differences, we build cultures of innovation, trust, and belonging. It’s not about agreement—it’s about respect, learning, and making space for everyone to bring their best selves to the table. 

So, pour your tea (or coffee), and reflect: What’s one way you can lean into the power of differences this week? How can you create a culture where every voice truly matters? 

Weekly Tea with ARG is a weekly reflection designed to inspire leaders to build intentional, values-driven culture through actionable insights and thoughtful practices.

If you are looking for support to strengthen your company's culture or build team resilience, reach out to us at ARG Coaching & Consulting Group, we are here to help your team conquer change and cultivate results.