What would you include in the job description for Santa Claus?

What would you include in the job description for Santa Claus? How about round belly, white beard, jolly personality, willing to sit for hours, be able to withstand heat, and patience. That's a pretty good list.

What about proficient in American Sign Language, ability to get in and out of chair often in order to reach customer, being willing to interact with children who have differing abilities, and multilingual? While we often forget these important characteristics, they are just as important as the first list.

This is why the acceptance of diversity is so important in business. Gone are the days when we had the cookie cutter life, when those who are different are relegated to live-in facilities or to the walls of their home. Gone are the days when all of our customers do not expect to have the same experience.

I work in the Quality Department of a company whose greatest workforce population speaks Spanish as their first language. Most of them know how to speak and write English; however, they are most comfortable in Spanish. All training at our location is performed in English only. How effective do you think that has been? When a new Quality Engineer tasked with developing ongoing training efforts for all of the employees said that all training should be in English and Spanish, upper management bristled. Diversity is a part of all business functions - even Quality.

Have you wondered what the experience would be for a child with differing abilities meets a Santa who can accommodate her? Watch the video and experience the wonderment.