We Celebrate the International Day of Tolerance

tolerance

[ tol-er-uhns ]Noun – a fair, respectful, and permissive attitude or policy toward people whose opinions, beliefs, practices, racial or ethnic origins, etc., differ from one’s own or from those of the majority; freedom from bigotry and from an insistence on conformity.

Every year, on November 16, we celebrate the International Day of Tolerance. Established by the United Nations in 1996, this special day promotes a brand of tolerance that is, according to the UN, “much more than passively accepting the other. It brings obligations to act, and must be taught, nurtured, and defended. Tolerance requires investment by states in people, and in the fulfilment of their full potential through education, inclusion and opportunities. This means building societies founded on respect for human rights, where fear, distrust and marginalization are supplanted by pluralism, participation, and respect for differences.”

The call to practice tolerance was written into the identity of the United Nations 70 years ago, and for all of us at FocusWorks, it’s always been more than a lofty ideal. In fact, tolerance is baked into the DNA of FocusWorks Consulting Group; it’s central to what we teach teams and their leaders and how we live our lives every day.

For years, FocusWorks has “taught, nurtured, and defended” tolerance as a key part of our ongoing mission. We’ve been working with organizations large and small, helping them build inclusive cultures of understanding that move the needle for their businesses. Our clients learn first-hand the genuine strength and power that comes with diversity, and that when people of different backgrounds and cultures work together for a common purpose, good things always happen.

The International Day for Tolerance holds more meaning and relevance this year than ever before, as the values of empathy and understanding it celebrates are increasingly important to our lives and essential to preserve and safeguard.

In today’s increasingly high-tech world, we’re certainly more connected to one another than we’ve ever been, but that doesn’t always come with more understanding. At FocusWorks, we specialize in developing people and organizations through strategically targeted and customizable training programs, seminars, and interactive workshops, all designed to break down barriers and build a powerful culture of understanding. We celebrate and practice tolerance not only on November 16, but every day of the year.