Communication in a Multicultural Workplace Moriba Touray Devry University, Keller Graduate School of Management, GM410
Aug 06, 2015
Communication in a Multicultural Workplace
Moriba Touray
Devry University, Keller Graduate School of Management, GM410
How to Communicate in the workplace
• The ability to be opened to learning about and accepting of cultural diverse groups.
• Note the following:
Prejudice Sexism
Stereotype Multiculturalism
Cultural sensitivity Ethnicity
Racism Race
Discrimination Ethnocentrism
Why address cultural differences in a multicultural workplace
• Help organizations build environments that include all workers.
• Explore the concept of intentional and unintentional intolerance.
• Recognize the strength of diversity as a leader.
• Address the issue of stereotype i.e. generalization characteristics that applied to members of a cultural group.
What groups do we include in our list of cultural differences
Race
Gender
Faith Ethnicity
Language
Nation
The specific cultural approach to differences
• Understanding and awareness of cultural issues. Reduces the chance of stereotyping.
• Not to discriminate or make difference in treatment on a basis other than individual character.
• Recognize and acknowledge societal diversity. In addition, there exists many ethnicity, sexual orientation, religion, gender and class.
Recognition of group identity with respect
• Communication and language
• Dress and appearance
• Time and time consciousness
• Rewards and recognition
• Relationships
• Values and norms
• Sense of self and space
• Beliefs and attitudes
Recognition of cross-cultural factors
• Food and eating habits
• Personal hygiene, habits and appearance
• Cultural values in Asia and the American workplace
• Understand workplace ladder
Incorporating diversity into workplace communication
• Come out of our comfort zones
• Communicate in way that new groups can understand
• Become sensitive to our own culture and value and respect differences
• Promote mutual respect
• Stimulate to strategic and critical thinking
• Seek to help members to different cultures when interacting with them.
Facilitate communication across cultural boundaries
• Recognize differences
• Build your self-awareness
• Describe and identify, then interpret
• Don’t assume your interpretation is right
• Share experience honestly. Don’t evaluate or judge others. Avoid cultural blindness: it could camouflage reality.
• Acknowledge discomfort, hesitation or concern. Practice politically correct communication.
Communication strategies to promote understanding
• Patient
• Select words carefully, and avoid slang
• Use nouns, not pronouns
• Ask specific questions-when, how, who, what etc.
• Praise and criticism should be clearly distinguished
• Recognize eye contacts, accent and personal space.
Better Communication in the diverse workplace
• Learn how the source culture best receives communication
• Train foreign employees to avoid misunderstanding and confusion
• Practice open-door communication carefully
• Company wide communications, avoid jargons
• Play by the rules and stick to business
Individual path to multiculturalcommunication
• Accept/respect – allowing other cultures be what they are and is fine for things not always fit our paradigms.
• Appreciation/value- see worthy things in things that fall outside our own culture
• An individual begin using things that were initially outside our own cultural paradigms
• Recognize multiculturalism- integrating our lives with other cultures
Communication as a tool to empowerment in the workplace
• Strive to be responsible to all sectors within the workplace
• Facilitate workplace empowerment
• Implement inclusion and build relationships at all levels
• Encourage and support cultural competent members
Continuum of communication in a multicultural workplace
• Should be characterized by acceptance of and respect for differences, continuing self-assessment, regarding cultural dynamics, and continuous expansion of cultural knowledge
• Holding other cultures at very high-esteem.
• Combat stereotyping, scape-goating, and other misinformation
• Recognize values, respect and build the diversity within the organization
References
Bove’e, C. & Thill, J. 2006. Business
Communication Essentials, Second edition, Apprentice Hall, Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458.
Thank you!