Q There are those who embrace and demand that you recognize their distinction based on race, religion, gender, and sexual orientation. Former Colorado Governor Richard Lamm confronted that issue in a now internationally famous speech, “How to Destroy America.” http://www.snopes.com/politics/soapbox/lamm.asp This tendency to align oneself with others who share certain of our characteristics raises yet another dilemma for you as a manager/leader: how can you distinguish, and thus separate, people without discriminating? Aren't these distinct people asking you to discriminate? John Roberts, Chief Justice of the US Supreme Court, observed: "the way to stop discrimination on the basis of race is to stop discriminating on the basis of race." It could be observed that, because of our need to identify with a distinct group – male, female, black, white, Latino, Asian, Native American, physically/mentally challenged, young, old, LGBT, straight . . . - our society cannot attain that lofty goal. You will likely encounter such a dilemma when amassing your workforce: should the company hire on the basis of merit or should the workforce mirror the diversity reflected in the community? The former serves the legal, profit-motive interests of the principal; the latter demonstrates an ethical respect for the individual and the unique components of the community.