EMBRACING DIVERSITYin the

Modern Work Environment

PRESENTED BY

DR. AUBREY F. BENTHAM

What Is Workplace Diversity?

• Valuing and respecting differences in individuals and groups, where these differences make a contribution to the success of the organization

Why Is Diversity Important?

1. We must include ALL people

2. U.S. is a migration MELTING POT

3. U.S. businesses are now GLOBAL

4. CULTURES are interactive and interdependent

5. Diversity allows us to LEARN and SHARE our cultural differences

Demographics/ U.S. Dept: of Labor

• 1988

Caucasian-Americans = 50%

Women, immigrants, non-whites = 50%

• 2000

Women, immigrants, non-whites = 75%

Demographics/ U.S. Dept: of Labor

• 2010

Spanish-speaking Americans will be the largest minority group

• 2050

The number of minorities will equal the number of whites in the U.S.A

Opportunities for Cultural Diversity

and Intercultural Communication

Diversity works best when Commun-ication between persons of diverse cultural backgrounds, are allowed to interact from their cultural view point (ET. Hall)

Cultural Diversity andIntercultural Communication

• Being Aware of Differences• Physical – features, appearances

• Cultural – race, ethnicity, religious, social

• Perceptual – seeing things differently

• Experiential –having different experiences

• Emotions – gender and cultural differences

• Linguistic –different language / vocabulary

Hindrances to Diversityand Communication

• Derogatory “Hot Buttons”• Towel heads . you people• Sand people . nice slanted eyes• Dot heads . built like a 2 x 4• The N word the wheelchair guy• Slave driver . the short fat one• Red necks . the light sweet one• Crackers . I don’t see you as…• Wet backs . the Red Skins

Contrasting Cultural Tendencies

• English – conservative, polite, formal• French – trusting, romantic, artistic• Italians – talkative, emotional, bold• S/American –laidback, patient, deals• Asians –soft spoken, polite, xeno-

phobic, non-confrontational, dutiful• Caribbean – respect knowledge, authority, will mix business w/pleasure

Contrasting Cultural Tendencies (Con’t)

• Hispanic/Latino - strength in groups, family & tradition are important

• Indians – hard working, values friend- ship in the workplace, emotional, will bargain

• Nigerians – loyal to tradition, high regard for authority (elders)

• Greek – blunt, looks for hidden meanings in contracts & conversation

Cultural Habits & Behaviors

• Chronemics - differences towards time

• Chromatics - different use of colors

• Proxemics - space & physical distance

• Oculemics – differences in eye contact

• Olfactics - differences in smell / scents

• Kinesics – body movements / posture

• Haptics - touch types

Diversity Knowledge

• What is Diversity Helping US

to Achieve?

1. Effective Communication

2. More Cultural Awareness

3. More Cultural Interaction

4. Improved understanding

5. Adaptation, NOT Assimilation

Diversity KnowledgeCultural Diversity’s Daily ‘To Do’ List

7 Intercultural Constructs1. Today I will be a global thinker

2. Today I will be communicator and communicatee (listener)3. Today I will be an asset to my

company by including everyone

Diversity Knowledge: “To Do” List 7 Intercultural Constructs

4. Today I will see differences as

opportunities for success

5. Today I will be tolerant of constraints

imposed by differences

6. Today I will value the contribution of

all cultures

7. Today I will value the contribution of

my own cultural diversity

Ways to IncreaseDiversity Knowledge

Available Tools

• Books . Websites . CDs & Tapes

• Courses . Workshops . Music . Movies

• Ethnic festivals . Cultural exhibits

• Foods . Diversity day . Consultants

• Diversity Teams . Diversity Evaluations

• Management Support . Culture maps

Initial Dimensions of Diversity

Race

Ethnicity

Gender

Religion

Age

Family Lineage

Today’s Dimensions of Diversity

• Single parenthood . Weight• Political affiliation . Education• Cultural prioritization . Language• Differently able . Appearance• Marital status . Nationality• W/B collar job . Music / Foods • Smoke/non-smoke . Neighborhood• Intelligence (accent) . Immigration-• Sexual orientation status

Six Myths About Diversity

1) It is for women & minorities only

2) Diversity is a new phenomenon

3) It’s about deficiency - lowering standards

4) Diversity is divisive - separates people

5) Diversity is to be feared

6) Diversity will go away

What Really Causes Cultural Differences?

• Culture – those distinct traditions, practices, attitudes, behaviors, rituals, customs, priorities, and values belonging to a particular group of people

Some Causes of Cultural Differences

a) Different government systems• United States - Federal Republic• England - Constitutional Monarchy• Canada - Parliamentary Democracy• Saudi Arabia - Regional Emirs• Iran - Religious Council

b) Different educational systems• U.S. et al – k-12 free & compulsory • Germany – K-U free, U non-compulsory• Iran - 7-12 years, Islam, male only

Some Causes of Cultural Differences

C) Different family systemsUnited States

• Dating (socialization) starts at 13• Nuclear family (dad, mom, 2 ½ kids)• 1/3 single parent households

Japan• Men are breadwinners, mothers run homes• Groom pays for all wedding expenses• Divorce rate is low

Cultural Differences Caused byFamily Systems

Caribbean• Children “come-of-age” at 21-year• Parents involved in child’s marriage• Bride’s family pay wedding expenses

Spanish Origin• Nuclear family includes extended family• A good family is a large family (4+ kids)• Family responsibilities come first

Semantic Differences

U.S.A Others• Hood Bonnet /England• Truck Lorry /England• Ford’s Fiera ‘ugly woman’ /Sp• Chevy Nova ‘no go’ /Spanish• ‘Look out!’ Look outside / Fr• Stop sign (stop) Stop (suggestion)• Soda pop Soft drink• I love you ‘tu’ or ‘usted’

American Semantics Frequently Misunderstood by Other Cultures

• Asleep at the switch . Back off

• Doggie bag . Cold turkey

• Park in driveway . Bling-Bling

• Miss the boat . Rock bottom

• Piece-a-cake . Laid off

• Ball-park figure . Bottom line

• Red tape . Ring a bell

Diversity Skills:What are they, and How do I get them?

• Diversity skills are competencies that allow people to interact with others in ways that respect & value differences

Diversity Skills For Success

• Seven ways to develop diversity skills

• Flexible thinking

• Be open-minded

• See the individual, not her or his group

• Be aware & conscious of “otherness”

• Do not use hot buttons (negatives)

• Reach out, but be yourself

• Evaluate yourself

Inadequate Diversity Skills:A prescription for Failure

• A strain on interpersonal relations

• Inability to join teams at work

• Feeling challenged & insecure

• A target for discrimination lawsuits

• Constant suspicion among coworkers

and with customers

• A hostile environment

• Company loses business

Inadequate Skills and Culture ClashWhen things don’t go as planned

Ways to resolve Culture ClashA. Clash recognitionB. Communicate (talk)C. Circumvent (avoid)D. Confront (assertively)E. Compromise (give a little)F. Commit (give a lot)G. Consensus (win-win)

Six Barriers to Diversity Embracement

1. Perception – selective & limited

2. Ethnocentrism – acting superior

3. Stereotyping – grouping, labeling

4. Prejudice – inflexible opinions

5. Prejudice - plus power

6. Discrimination – the act of unequal

treatment of others

How to Overcome Diversity Barriers

• Realize that barriers do exist

• Enhance your knowledge (self/others)

• Alter your opinion of others

• Let everyone have an opportunity

• Treat others fairly & equally

• Otherness is American, & profitable

• Replace negatives with positives

• Start today, start now