Managing Diversity in the Workplace
Preface
When people refer to diversity, they may be thinking first of ethnicity and race, and then, of gender. However, diversity is much broader than that. Diversity can apply to anyone you perceive to be different from yourself. Dimensions of diversity include, but are not limited to age, ethnicity, ancestry, gender, physical abilities and work experience, or any other dimensions. It is widely noted that diverse teams lead to more innovative and effective ideas and implementations because it requires using diverse perspectives to reach new and creative thinking. Conversely, similarity can cause groupthink and diminishes creativity. Assume that you are the CEO of a shoe company. How can you best tap into the diversity within your company to help you to improve your systems for marketing and selling your product? How can you attract a more diverse workforce and why might this be beneficial? What are some ways that you might incorporate the diversity that you have into developing a workplace culture that values diversity? These tasks can be difficult at first, but we can set our goals, keep them on track, and eventually achieve them.
How can you attract a more diverse workforce and why might this be beneficial?
Many studies have proven that more diversity and inclusion leads to higher revenue and better innovation. Loyalty will also be impacted as many customers will not shop in companies lacking these characteristics. A company that employs a diverse workforce is better able to understand the demographics of the various consumer markets it serves. With the emerging markets around the world, organizations need local talent to enter the marketplace and to communicate effectively. Therefore, localization is one way to do it. Another one is adaptation. Organizations must be technologically and culturally adaptable in the modern economy. Diversity fosters creative thinking and improved decision-making through a deeper and more comprehensive worldview.
What are some ways that you might incorporate the diversity that you have into developing a workplace culture that values diversity?
i. Hire diverse staff
Every business owners want to hire the best employee for each position, but patience can render the best staff with diverse backgrounds.
ii. Retreat & Build Great Relationships
Give your staff a chance to get to know one another outside of work and plan some team-building activities that encourage your staff members to talk to each other.
iii. Diversity Programs
Some companies will approve funding for a diversity program and allow staff to take a workday for the course. Diversity classes expose people to new ideas, encourage acceptance, and may result in a higher level of productivity. Whether you take it online or invite a diversity expert to deliver an in-office course, diversity workshops can be beneficial to the office.
iv. Education
Education comes in the forms of training, team-building exercises, or courses. The goal of these is to make them aware of their own unconscious bias, bridge gaps, and strengthen relationships.
In conclusion, managing diversity in the workplace is a necessary challenges for HR professionals. These challenges can be mitigated if an organization makes a concerted effort to encourage a more heterogeneous environment through promoting a culture of tolerance, open communication and creating conflict management strategies to address issues that may arise. To manage a diverse workplace, organizations need to ensure that they effectively communicate with employees. Policies, procedures, safety rules, and important information should be designed to overcome language and cultural barriers. Judge successes and failures on the individual’s merit rather than attributing actions to their background. Help them break down preconceived notions and cultural misunderstandings and make sure each employee is treated the same. Look for ways to incorporate a diverse range of perspectives and talents into efforts to achieve organizational goals.
Reference
Holt, M. (2017, November 21). How to create an organizational culture that values diversity. Small Business - Chron.com. Retrieved October 16, 2021, from https://smallbusiness.chron.com/create-organizational-culture-values-diversity-1198.html.
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