Help employees develop the skills they need to effectively communicate, resolve conflict and solve problems in culturally diverse environments. Such skills include the ability to communicate across cultural differences, the ability to resolve diversity-based conflict, the ability to provide coaching and mentoring for a diverse range of employees, and the ability to contribute to the creation of culturally empowered environments. Keep in mind that organizational members will not develop these skills overnight. However, with ongoing developmental opportunities and the chance to apply newly developed skills on the job, increased competency levels will become evident, and will have a positive impact on both individual and organizational performance. In addition, by providing continuous opportunities for development, you will demonstrate your commitment to the creation of a culturally inclusive workplace.
Next Post: September 16, 2013 – Creating a Climate for Diversity: Tip #3
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Given the diversity in the American workplace and the benefits that accrue from successfully empowering that diversity, it behooves us to create work environments that maximize the likelihood of success for a diverse range of people. Managers, supervisors and employees can help create a climate that empowers diversity by engaging in a variety of proactive behaviors. In coming weeks, I will describe these behaviors starting with Tip #1:
Next Post: September 12, 2013 - Creating a Climate for Diversity: Tip #2 In my last post, I defined empowering diversity as the intentional process of creating culturally empowered environments. There are 3 potential benefits to empowering diversity in your organization: improved individual and organizational performance, enhanced customer service and improved bottom-line.
Improved individual and organizational performance refers to measurable increases in employee productivity and work quality, enhanced team performance, improved organizational processes, and enhanced workforce quality. It also includes an increased ability on the part of the organization to recruit and retain the best human resources available. Enhanced customer service refers to an increased ability to connect with and successfully serve a diverse customer base. This can be reflected in improved sales in multicultural markets, reduced customer complaints, and increased market share. It also applies to internal customers, such as employees, and can be reflected in terms of improved attitude and morale. This is of particular importance in culturally diverse organizations, where there can be vast differences in employee perceptions and satisfaction levels. Finally, improved bottom-line refers to increased revenues, reduced costs, and enhanced organizational value and profitability. This can be reflected in a variety of organizational measures such as increased sales, stock value, and retention (especially among underrepresented group members), reduced cost-per-hire, and decreased turnover. It can also be reflected in a reduction in racial and sexual harassment, and associated legal costs. Next Post: September 9, 2013 – Creating a Climate for Diversity Empowering diversity is the intentional process of creating culturally empowered environments. Such environments recognize the significant benefits of diversity, include members of diverse cultural groups as full participants, act to eliminate all forms of discriminatory behavior, and actively seek to empower all members with the skills and opportunities needed for both individual and organizational success. The primary goal of any diversity empowerment process is the development of culturally inclusive organizations that generate measurable improvements in individual, organizational and community performance. While the creation of culturally empowered environments typically requires a significant amount of effort, this effort is rewarded through the accrual of three benefits: improved individual and organizational performance, enhanced customer service and improved organizational bottom-line. I will discuss these benefits in my next post. Have a great day!
Next Post: September 5, 2013 – The 3 Benefits of Empowering Diversity |
AuthorDr. Tyrone A. Holmes is an author, speaker, coach and consultant. He helps his clients develop the skills needed to communicate, resolve conflict, solve problems and improve performance in diverse organizational settings. Archives
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