What may seem like a straightforward business communication by one party may seem confusing, or worse, insulting, by another. Therefore, it is critical for managers to understand how culture impacts perception, so that they can ensure the effectiveness of their workplace communications.
"Communication for a diverse workforce requires understanding how diverse employee populations perceive business communication. Some employees believe constant memoranda and employee meetings are time wasters and, as such, might simply tune out both the message and the messenger. Other employees want to be informed of every company move, and if they believe transparency is missing from communication with employees, they begin to feel undervalued and unappreciated" (Mayhew, 2012). Understanding these differences can help managers relate to their subordinates in a more effective manner. However, the issue is not merely one of top-down communication. Employees also have to understand that they are working in a diverse environment. The presence of one employee who communicates in a different manner...
For example, the employee who feels as if regular meetings are a waste of valuable working time should not be excused from those meetings if the meetings increase the productivity of the overall unit. However, the employee's concerns should be addressed, and the employee should be given education about workplace diversity. By ensuring that all levels of an organization are aware of the impact of diversity in the workplace, the employer minimizes, but can never fully eliminate, the likelihood that diversity will lead to discord.
References
Bustos Farias, E. (Unk.). Understanding social perception and managing diversity. Retrieved December 7, 2012 from Angelfire website: http://www.angelfire.com/ak6/organizational_behav/lecture3.pdf
Mayhew, R. (2012). Communication & Diversity in the Workplace. Retrieved December 7,
2012 from Chron.com website: http://smallbusiness.chron.com/communication-diversity-workplace-11389.html
