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To answer the question, ‘Why is cultural diversity important?’ perhaps the most visual answer, although far from a compete one, is “Because without it, we would all be cookie-cutter people living in cookie-cutter houses in cookie-cutter cul de sacs. And it would be next to impossible to know who we were talking to, or how to find our way home!”
No one likes being ignored. People long to be celebrated, not tolerated. They always have and they always will. Cultural awareness gives each of us the grace and the good manners to indicate, “I see you. I honor you. I celebrate what makes you unique.” Especially when we are interacting with people who seem different than we are culturally, being able to remember the answer to, “Why is cultural diversity important?” gives us all the insights we’ll ever need to honor those differences and interact in ways that facilitate understanding and cooperation.
In the workplace, cultural awareness helps us remember to honor beliefs and sensibilities that are not necessarily our own, so that as we interact with people from other cultures, no unintended breach of good manners or conversational blunders occur. For example, did you know that in some societies, the “okay” sign is a definite no-no; in other cultures, burping at the dinner table is a sign of great pleasure and a compliment to the cook! Unless we become aware of cultural diversity in its many guises, relationships can die (or never begin) simply for the lack of understanding.
As we build our cultural awareness, we also build bridges to trust, respect and understanding across cultures and within a multicultural workplace, fostering productive interactions and agreements. When a team member looks at another team member from a different culture and can answer his own question, “Why is cultural diversity important?” with a list in which his team member excels where he falls short (perhaps in the team member’s ability to interact seamlessly and make agreements and contracts with others of the same culture; an ability to be creative or analytical that he lacks, etc.) a true spirit of camaraderie and connection emerges: “We really do need to be in this together; we each fall short without the other.”
In a new era when flexibility and creativity pave the way to success, cultural awareness and the answer to, “Why is cultural diversity important?” rings a very large bell.
ACT Seminars can help leaders, managers and other employees embrace cultural diversity and increase the likelihood that, as the demographics of this nation change, your business can continue to ride the crest into America’s future.
Diversity Issues in The Workplace
Diversity issues in the workplace are usually the result of a collision between differing expectations. Whenever workers from different cultures interact, it’s important to orient them so there is understanding and respect for another’s methods and unique contributions.
The changing face of the American workforce began to assert itself in the early 80’s as the majority population of the United States (Caucasians of European descent) began to lose its place at the pinnacle of power and demographics. With the demographics of the nation slated to shift from a white majority to a majority of people of color from other cultures within the next two decades, exemplary diversity management becomes all the more important . To do this, diversity issues in the workplace must be addressed, understood, honored and utilized to take the focus off of Americans of European descent and place it on the emerging multicultural playing field where everyone can benefit from and contribute to the American dream and the economy it creates.
Recent research has indicated that an estimated 68% of new workers in America are females and people of color, and both of theses factions have different expectations and driving forces than do white males. And the purchasing power of Americans of African, Asian and Hispanic descent has never been greater than it is right now -- exceeding billions of dollars -- and it’s growing fast. So diversity issues in the workplace cannot be ignored or even “managed.” They need to be embraced. To do this, diversity information must be shared with all employees and deeply understood and acknowledged. People aren’t mindless machines; each of us wants to be celebrated, not just tolerated, for who we are and what we do.
ACT Seminars offers sessions that artfully address diversity issues in the workplace. Our trainers can guide you and your workforce, showing you ways to get involved and interested in learning more about your co-workers of different cultures. As this occurs, you learn about the cultural role that different values have in the decision-making process, and why respecting another’s way of handling interactions or matters is equally valid, valuable, and contributory. Diversity management largely consists of finding ways to capitalize on the cultural strengths and sensibilities of co-workers from other cultures.
By looking at what each culture and each individual brings to the workforce, diversity issues in the workplace start to look more like prospective synergies rather than obstinate obstacles.
ACT Seminars also exposes the harmful effects of stereotyping other human beings because of where they come from, how they dress, what they eat, or the focus of their faith. As we explore the different issues, we usually uncover biases that our clients didn’t even know they had. Often this surprising discovery elicits gales of laughter; at other times, more than a little shame. But it’s all valuable. Everything we reveal is designed to bring people closer together.
Diversity issues in the workplace must be acknowledged, addressed and honored in the 21st century. The “typical” face of America is changing. Unless its organizations and businesses change with it, they will be left behind. At ACT Seminars we’ll share success stories from other companies who have made the change from uni-cultural to multicultural and who are better off and more successful as a result. We’ll reveal how your usual ability to treat others with dignity and respect can put you at the forefront of an America that must realign itself and fully engage within the emerging demographics if it wants to remain a world leader in areas of commerce, influence and compassion.
Multicultural Workforce
“Multicultural workforce diversity helps to ensure that all the bases are covered as a business reaches out to engage an American nation that will soon be dominated by multicultural populations.”
During the next few decades of the 21st century, will your organization be a locomotive or a caboose? Your position may well depend upon the strides you take to improve multicultural workforce diversity.
All of the big guns – in entertainment, banking, commerce, education and health care, among others – have invested heavily in multicultural workforce diversity for years. Most are still thriving even during the current economic downturn.
If you want to secure your business for many years to come, one of your most important steps will be securing good leaders, managers and employees from among the diversity of talent to be found outside the usual parameters. Invite the future into your business. Establish multicultural workforce diversity and you’ll be partway there!
Why multicultural workforce diversity matters:
Immigrant and multicultural workers are generally skilled change agents and are open to change Multicultural diversity increases understanding between co-workers over time Multicultural workforce diversity has been shown to reduce lawsuits and to create marketing opportunities because of an improved business image The presence of, and interaction with, multicultural workers tends to improve “outside the box” thinking, stirring up more creative thinking and better ways to do business, increasing the bottom line Eliminate any suggestion in other people’s minds that only Caucasians rate and rule inside the doors of your workplace, then watch your business blossom
It’s an irrefutable fact: the face of America is changing. If businesses large and small refuse to change with it, their sorry legacy will be, “We liked it the way it was so much that we decided we’d rather go out of business altogether than change with the times.” Your choices become your destiny. The ball is in your court. If you want to stay in the game, get in the game.
At ACT Seminars, we can show you how to get in step with the future of American commerce by engaging in a step-by-step plan to achieve multicultural workforce diversity. By learning what it takes to attract, employ and truly empower multicultural workers, you can takes the steps you need to take today to welcome the 21st century with open arms and a welcoming smile.
Email: contact@actseminars.com
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