Managing a Culturally Diverse Staff
Posted in Diversity & Inclusion
More and more organizations are now adjusting their policies in response to the growing clamor for workplace equality in all aspects. A related issue that has been shaping the workplace is cultural diversity. The economic and demographic changes brought about by globalization have resulted in a culturally diverse workforce.
In order to reap the benefits of diversity, harmony and understanding should be promoted. If done correctly, it will result in a happier and more productive workforce, which in turn will lead to a more prosperous company.
What is diversity?
If one looks at the meaning of the term "diversity" in the dictionary, one will find that the focus is on difference. In other words, diversity is defined as the presence of differences.
Most diversity experts believe that the significant distinctions are class, age, sexual orientation, gender, culture, ethnicity, race, language, religion, physical abilities, and nation of origin.
In a culturally diverse workplace, people bring a variety of styles, backgrounds, beliefs, values, and perspectives as assets to the organizations and groups in which they interact.
Providing a harmonious and understanding environment maximizes the potential advantages of cultural diversity for group or organizational performance, while minimizing the potential disadvantages.
Advantages and challenges
A culturally diverse workplace has many advantages: improved performance, enhanced creativity and innovation, improved problem solving quality, and enhanced organizational flexibility.
However, there are many challenges that confront such a workplace: actual cultural differences, stereotyping and associated assumptions, difficulties in communication, in-group exclusivity, difficulties in building rapport and good relationships, and double standards for success.
Promoting harmony and understanding
In a culturally diverse workplace, cross-cultural interactions are inevitable. Very often, the cultural majority has discriminating attitude against the minority. While working in a diverse workplace, many cultural minorities confront and try to survive repression.
Thus cultural differences within an organization requires training sessions designed to promote understanding. Clear understanding of existing cultural differences in an organization results in respect, innovative performance, and harmony.
Management of cultural diversity should be directed towards promoting harmony and understanding, not the cultivation of polarization. This will result in a greater respect for each other.
The significance of recognizing an individual as unique, offering his/her individual skills, thoughts, and contributions cannot be undermined. What is necessary in creating harmony in a culturally diverse workplace is to focus on the common goals and other similarities.
A harmonious and understanding environment can be beneficial for group dynamics. It will be easy for people to build social relationships quickly and engage in the interactions that are required for teamwork.
In general, honoring and celebrating cultural differences is very important not only to teamwork, but also to the organization's bottom lines.
