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EMBRACING DIVERSITY in the Modern Work Environment

EMBRACING DIVERSITY in 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 [MY] Organization.

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EMBRACING DIVERSITY in the Modern Work Environment

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  1. EMBRACING DIVERSITYin theModern Work Environment PRESENTED BY DR. AUBREY F. BENTHAM

  2. What is Workplace Diversity? • Valuing and RespectingDifferences in Individuals and Groups, where these differences make a Contribution to the Success of [MY] Organization

  3. Why is Diversity Important? • We must include ALL people • U.S. is a migration MELTING POT • U.S. businesses are now GLOBAL • CULTURES are interactive and interdependent • Diversity allows us to LEARN and SHARE our cultural differences

  4. Demographics/ U.S. Dept: of Labor • 1988 Caucasian-Americans = 50% Women, immigrants, non-whites = 50% • 2000 Women, immigrants, non-whites = 75%

  5. 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

  6. 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)

  7. 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

  8. Hindrances to Diversityand Communication • ‘Derogatory ‘Hot Buttons’ • Towel heads . ‘you people’ • Sand people . ‘nice slanted eyes’ • Dot heads . ‘nice colored folks’ • 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’

  9. 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, author -ity, will mix business w/pleasure

  10. Contrasting Cultural Tendencies (Con’t) • Hispanic/Latino - strength in groups, family & tradition are important • Indians – hard working, values friend- ship in the w/p, emotional, will bargain • Nigerians – loyal to tradition, high regard for authority (elders) • Greek – blunt, looks for hidden meanings in contract & conversation

  11. 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

  12. Diversity Knowledge • What is Diversity Helping US to Achieve? • Effective Communication • More Cultural Awareness • More Cultural Interaction • Improved understanding • Adaptation NOT Assimilation

  13. Diversity KnowledgeCultural Diversity’s Daily ‘To Do’ List 7 Intercultural Constructs 1. 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 comp- any by including everyone

  14. Diversity Knowledge: ‘To Do’ List7 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

  15. 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

  16. Initial Dimensions of Diversity Race Ethnicity Gender Religion SES Age Family Lineage

  17. 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 preference status

  18. Six Myths About Diversity • It is for women & minorities only • Diversity is a new phenomenon • It’s about deficiency- lowering standards • Diversity is divisive -separates people • Diversity is to be feared • Diversity will go away

  19. What Really Causes Cultural Differences? • Culture – those distinct traditions, practices, attitudes, behaviors, rituals, customs, priorities, and values belonging to a particular group of people

  20. 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

  21. Some Causes of Cultural Differences C) Different family systems United 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

  22. Cultural Differences Caused byFamily Systems Caribbean • Children ‘come-of-age’ at 21-years • 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

  23. Semantic Differences U.S.AOthers • 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’

  24. 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

  25. 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

  26. Diversity Skills For Success • 7-Ways to develop Diversity skills • Flexible thinking • Be open-minded • See the individual, not her group • Be aware & conscious of ‘otherness’ • Do not use hot-buttons (negatives) • Reach out, but be yourself • Evaluate yourself

  27. 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 law suits • Constant suspicion among coworkers and with customers • A hostile environment • Company loses business

  28. The Costs of Inadequate Diversity Skills • 1994 Denny’s restaurant corporation paid a $45M settlement in a discrim-ination case • 1995 KFC’s lack of diversity skills and cultural awareness in China became a social liability; ‘finger lickin good’ was translated ‘enjoy eating your finger off’

  29. The Costs of Inadequate Diversity Skills • 1996 Texaco paid $176M in damages due to a secret recording of racist remarks made by its executives • Mitsubishi paid $34M, 20 fired, for sexual harassment involving 350- women • AT&T management forced to acknow-ledge & apologize for derogatory racist advertisement

  30. Inadequate Skills and Culture ClashWhen ‘things’ don’t go as planned Ways to resolve Culture Clash A. Clash recognition B. Communicate (talk) C. Circumvent (avoid) D. Confront (assertively) E. Compromise (give a little) F. Commit (give a lot) G. Consensus (win-win)

  31. 6-Barriers to Diversity Embracement 1. Perception – selective & limited 2. Ethnocentrism – acting superior 3. Stereotyping – grouping, labeling 4. Prejudice – inflexible opinions 5. Prejudice - plus power • Discrimination – the act of unequal treatment of others

  32. 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

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