How to Integrate a Multi-Cultural Workforce
The Fine Art of Managing Diversity in the Age of Globalization
Aug 4, 2009
Diversity is a common denominator in many businesses across America and around the globe. The age of globalization has allowed peoples from hugely divergent cultures to migrate and find employment in places far away from their homeland. Getting workers from differing backgrounds to work together in harmony can be a difficult task. How can a business entity integrate a multicultural staff for optimal productivity?
Have a Warm Attitude towards All Employees
First, in order to integrate a multicultural workforce, the senior management must display a warm attitude toward all employees without prejudice. This kind of attitude takes humility which is not a trait commonly associated with successful business executives. Humility means to have a right view of oneself and accordingly towards all others. Corporate leaders who are humble are more likely to appreciate the unique backgrounds of their staff from other cultural backgrounds.
Engage the Staff in a Multicultural Dialogue
The second tip to integrate the workforce is to have them engage in directed dialogues. This means that human resources or top management can set up discussion groups with participants from different ethnic backgrounds for semi-directed question and answer sessions. Through such Q & A sessions participants will learn more about why their co-workers believe and act the way they do, which can lead to greater tolerance.
Set up Cross-cultural Training Seminars
A third tip to integrate a multi-ethnic workforce is to hold periodic cross-cultural training seminars. In this case, management or the human resources office brings in an expert in multi-ethnic relations who teaches the workers how to bridge differences for greater effectiveness while on the job. Such seminars include world view, origin of values, competing values and tolerance at the workplace. Participants also learn techniques for how to dialogue more effectively.
Become Familiar with Core Values of Employees
The most important action top management can take to integrate a harmonious workforce is to model it. One way corporate leaders can model appreciation for diversity is to take time to read up on the different cultures represented in their company. Due to the development of the Internet, information on just about every culture on the planet is available online. Learning about the ethnic backgrounds of employees and common core values of their culture will take time, but will show staff members that the organization cares about them as individuals.
These are just a few ways to integrate a multicultural workforce in the age of globalization.
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