My belief is that you cannot and need not try to treat all people equally. People are different from each other and, by that very nature, need to be treated differently in different circumstances. Dealing with diversity in the workplace is not about getting everyone to be the same, but rather about understanding and appreciating differences. Then we can begin to demonstrate tolerance and inclusion.
A perfect example of these principles can be seen in our work on understanding and building trust. We acknowledge that our level of trust varies according to individuals and situations. I wouldn’t trust a jet pilot to perform brain surgery. I wouldn’t trust an eight year old to catch me if I fell from a chair, but I may well trust a professional football player to make that catch. Similarly, we need to be more tolerant of someone who is learning new skills than with someone who has ample ability and has had ample opportunity to learn those same skills.
I like to use the term “equitable” rather than “equal.” Being treated “equal” tends to imply being treated the same. The term “equitable’ leans more towards fairness and reasonableness which allows for consideration of individual differences and situations.
In striving to treat everyone equal, we may well discover that we are not being fair.