Fostering a Diverse Workplace
Fostering diversity in the workplace seems to have become increasingly difficult for many organizations. As American culture becomes much more diverse, a greater number of ethnic minorities, women, and many other diverse individuals may come together in the workplace, and many experts feel this creates more difficulty in fostering communication and understanding between so many different cultures and ideas. One researcher notes, "These dramatic changes in the composition of society and the workforce will introduce tensions because 'differences in cultural norms and values among ethnic groups in the United States will manifest themselves in different work-related behaviors'" (Wanguri, 1996). Obviously, fostering a workplace so diverse can be difficult, but it is certainly not impossible.
Most experts agree that communication is the top priority in fostering a diverse workplace. Many managers and supervisors may have been trained in communication practices that worked in the past, but may not be effective or applicable in today's diverse working environment. Writer Wanguri continues that managers "must begin to examine and implement appropriate alternatives to old strategies for communicating with employees, alternatives that will in time lead to perceptions of communicative equity by all employees" (Wanguri, 1996). Thus, new communication strategies may need to be implemented and taught by the organization, and new ways of seeing the workforce may need to be established.
Many studies have shown that humans are attracted to people with similar likes, dislikes, and outlooks on life. Thus, in the workplace, workers of diversity may tend to band together in their own groups, shutting out other groups. Fostering good communication between the groups can not only foster increased understanding and awareness, but can also foster camaraderie and a desire to work together as a cohesive group. Studies have also shown that when communication decreases, the tension between groups can increase (Wanguri, 1996). Thus, fostering effective and open communication in a workplace can also foster a diverse and ever changing workforce.
References
Wanguri, D.M. (1996). Diversity, perceptions of equity and communicative openness in the workplace. The Journal of Business Communication, 33(4), 443+.
