Creating a Climate for Diversity: Tip #1 - Create Opportunities for Interaction

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:

• Create opportunities for culturally different individuals to interact with each other on a continuous basis. It is important to recognize that you cannot simply cluster people with significant cultural differences and expect they will naturally connect on their own. Of course some will, but even more will not. You can proactively facilitate cross-cultural interaction through structured icebreakers and social events, teambuilding activities, and group projects and assignments. The key is to make sure people have an opportunity to interact on an ongoing basis, and not just once or twice.

Next Post: September 12, 2013 - Creating a Climate for Diversity: Tip #2