Diversity in the workplace isn’t what it used to be. Diversity, especially in the United States, was traditionally defined as referring to a person’s race, colour, religion, gender or national origin. While these characteristics still remain true about diversity, it has grown to include so much more. In t oday’s global world, diversity has expanded to include diversity of thought. Companies value the diverse ideas that associates are able to offer specifically around creativity, imagination and innovation.
Diversity also includes the challenges we might face with having different generations of people who work side-by-side, but who have very different working norms and styles. While there are many challenges that may present themselves in a diverse workplace, it’s important to remember that diversity of all kinds is an asset and something to be embraced. As expressed by Helen Keller, “Alone we can do so little, together we can do so much.”
Many global organisations find themselves with a workforce that is ethnically, generationally, socially, and culturally diverse. How can a global company that has associates with such diverse backgrounds and styles be turned into a team that operates cohesively?
How can one help team members successfully work together to manage through change? What are some ways for one to learn about and ultimately appreciate the differences that each person brings to the table?
The viewpoint and experiences of someone born and raised in Texas, United States, is likely to differ tremendously from someone growing up in rural India. What helps companies gain a competitive advantage is the view that these differences are positive and the ability to tap into each individual’s broad experiences to ultimately create a more well-rounded team.
Large organisations welcome the diversity of approaches, thinking, and problem-solving. All of these things help guard against groupthink and cultural misunderstanding.
Here is a list of simple, yet effective tips that will help a company embrace the diversity of a global marketplace and bond team members together:
*Create an environment embracing open and honest communication.
*Provide clarity. Ensure all team members understand the specific goals and set clear expectations.
*Ask questions. Asking specific questions will help elicit thoughtful responses and build relationships.
*Establish a virtual open-door policy for employees to share ideas/concerns. This will increase brainstorming among team members.
* Use video to interact with team members whenever possible. The ability to see each other’s faces and their non-verbal communication builds the connection between team members.
* Plan virtual teambuilding activities. One idea would be to host a virtual coffee hour where everyone gathers together via video with their favourite morning beverage and shares a fun fact about themselves.
It’s important to dedicate time to focus on team bonding and building connections and having fun.
* Create an ongoing team chat via a global messaging application (ex: WhatsApp). Encourage the team to share personal and professional accomplishments (ex: sharing that they passed a certification course or their child’s first birthday pictures).
* Appreciate and celebrate cultural and generational differences.
* Become familiar with the international holiday calendar. Note the dates that are celebrated by team members depending on their geography.
* Appreciate that for the first time, there are five generations of people working simultaneously in the workforce. They have differing values, norms and expectations.
* Be flexible when scheduling meetings. Try to alternate meeting times by time zone so the same person is not inconvenienced by the meeting time, each time.
* Create a buddy system within the team. Pair each associate with a buddy based in a different geography or with someone who might be at a different stage of life. These one-on-one relationships will help establish inter-cultural and inter-generational relationships that bring about tremendous value.
( Kai Williams is vice president, Human Resources, at Epsilon. )
