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RuralLeaderMagazine.com | JULY/AUGUST 2015 15 Americans are becoming more committed to diversity and inclusion than ever before. They look to do business with companies that are truly diverse, too. Not only does this align with their values, it offers a distinct advantage: companies with more diverse teams are also top financial performers, according to McKinsey & Company research.

How do you know if you are buying from, or even working for, a truly diverse company and not one that only pretends to be? Here are some tips from Lorie Valle-Yañez, vice president and chief diversity officer at Massachusetts Mutual Life insurance Company (MassMutual) - a DiversityInc. 2015 Top 50 Company.

1. Look at leadership Diversity is a strong value that is woven into a company's culture. That culture is most often driven by the leaders at an organization. The best first step in determining if a company is truly diverse is to look at the makeup of those in leadership roles.

What is the makeup of the C-suite and board of directors? Are women and different ethnicities represented? In 2004, the majority of Fortune 100 companies had less than 30 percent Board diversity. By 2012 that number only slightly increased to 31 percent, according to the 2012 Alliance for Board Diversity Census. 2. Ask about initiatives Diversity is an ongoing effort that requires dedication. Before working with or for a company, ask about diversity initiatives and how the company is structured to support a dedication to inclusion - both internally and externally - toward clients.

Is there a department and leader dedicated to serving the unique needs of diverse customers and employees? At MassMutual, the chief diversity officer supports cultural diversity for staff, suppliers and clients. Holistic efforts like these demonstrate a company's ongoing commitment to diversity. 3. Investigate inclusion A culture of diversity is an ongoing effort that involves all employees. When looking at the authenticity of a company, inclusion is an important value. Company leaders must embrace diversity of thought and unique viewpoints while helping employees to develop professionally and maintain high engagement at work.

One indication of inclusion at a company is the presence of Employee Resource Groups. ERGs are great for promoting inclusion among all employees. Groups are created for people with similar characteristics, such as gender and religion, and some are even interest-based, focusing on topics such as the environment or parenting. MassMutual has nine Want to Work with a Diverse Company? Tips to Tell the Factual from the Fake

different ERGs that provide mentoring and volunteer opportunities to employees, and at the same time are involved in supporting the company's business strategy.

4. Seek strategic partnerships A company that values diversity and has a mind for the future will look for strategic partnerships that provide insight into niche markets and unique cultures. Find out if a company has memberships to diverse organizations that represent different markets and groups of people. Additionally, learn whether the company strives to work with others who are equally committed to diversity.

For more information about what makes a company authentically diverse and the DiversityInc. 2015 Top 50 Companies visit www.diversityinc.com.— BPT Celebration, Continued from page 12 silently gazed out. A few minutes later, he softly whispered, "This ranch isn't for sale after all." As the rancher turned to face the agent, a tear ran down his wrinkled, leathery cheek. "All my life I've dreamed of a place just like this. Now I finally realize what I've got here."

The relentless drive for ever-higher performance and reaching our next goal often leaves us too numb and exhausted to enjoy what we have achieved. Rather than pausing to appreciate what we have accomplished, we become narrowly focused on what we haven't yet attained. Dale Carnegie once observed that "one of the most tragic things I know about human nature it that all of us tend to put off living. We are all dreaming of some magical rose garden over the horizon — instead of enjoying the roses that bloom outside our windows today." I've been as guilty of this as anyone.

By not slowing down to savor successes along the way, each accomplishment becomes less fulfilling. When I have paused to savor and celebrate, life becomes richer and much more satisfying. I also find that it's a great "battery recharger." Savoring and celebrating is highly energizing. Paradoxically, it's when things are darkest and our goals seem farthest from reach that a focus on what's gone right and what we have to be thankful for can be the most invigorating. Radical change and aggressive breakthrough targets are often quite daunting. Continual change and constant improvement can be exhausting. That's why effective leaders break the endless improvement journey into a series of short exciting trips.

A key element of that is celebrating and savoring successes. It's how effective improvement leaders reenergize everyone to strive for the next goal. Energizing leaders employ a multitude of creative ways to foster appreciation and recognition, giving among all team and organization members.

They also find numerous ways to hike energy and enjoyment levels by marking and celebrating milestones along the way. Energizing leaders constantly search for ways to make change and improvement fun and rewarding. They know that the Laughter Index is a key indicator of the health and vitality of a team or organization.

Taking on this important leadership role means you'll need to overcome deep conditioning that business is very serious stuff. Tom Peters has speculated on the cause of this energy-sapping view of organizational life. He claims that over the entrance to most business schools there's a giant stone lintel with these words deeply inscribed in it, "All ye who enter here shall never smile again." If suppressed laughter does spread the hips and produce gas, that may explain a few things. — About the Author

Jim Clemmer's practical leadership and personal growth books, workshops, and team retreats have helped hundreds of thousands of people worldwide. An international best-selling author, his latest book is Growing @ the Speed of Change. Visit http://www. JimClemmer.com for more information.