Transcript Slide 1
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 Why is Diversity Important? 1. 2. 3. 4. We must include ALL people U.S. is a migration MELTING POT U.S. businesses are now GLOBAL 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 Communication between persons of diverse cultural backgrounds, are allowed to interact from their cultural view point (ET. Hall) Cultural Diversity and Intercultural 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 Diversity and 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’ Contrasting Cultural Tendencies • • • • • English – conservative, polite, formal French – trusting, romantic, artistic Italians – talkative, emotional, bold S/American –laidback, patient, deals Asians –soft spoken, polite, xenophobic, non-confrontational, dutiful • Caribbean – respect knowledge, author -ity, will mix business w/pleasure Contrasting Cultural Tendencies (Con’t) • Hispanic/Latino - strength in groups, family & tradition are important • Indians – hard working, values friendship 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 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 • 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. What is Diversity Helping US to Achieve? Effective Communication More Cultural Awareness More Cultural Interaction Improved understanding Adaptation NOT Assimilation Diversity Knowledge Cultural 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 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 Increase Diversity 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 SES Age Family Lineage Today’s Dimensions of Diversity • • • • • • • • • Single parenthood Political affiliation Cultural prioritization Differently able Marital status W/B collar Job Smoke/non-smoke Intelligence (accent) Sexual preference . Weight . Education . Language . Appearance . Nationality . Music / Foods . Neighborhood . Immigrationstatus Six Myths About Diversity 1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) 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 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 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 Cultural Differences Caused by Family 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 Semantic Differences • • • • • • • • U.S.A Hood Truck Ford’s Fiera Chevy Nova ‘Look out!’ Stop sign (stop) Soda pop I love you Others Bonnet /England Lorry /England ‘ugly woman’ /Sp ‘no go’ /Spanish Look outside / Fr Stop (suggestion) Soft drink ‘tu’ or ‘usted’ American Semantics Frequently Misunderstood by Other Cultures • • • • • • • Asleep at the switch Doggie bag Park in driveway Miss the boat Piece-a-cake Ball park figure Red tape . Back off . Cold turkey . Bling-Bling . Rock bottom . Laid off . Bottom line . 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 • • • • • • • • 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 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 The Costs of Inadequate Diversity Skills • 1994 Denny’s restaurant corporation paid a $45M settlement in a discrimination 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’ 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 350women • AT&T management forced to acknowledge & apologize for derogatory racist advertisement Inadequate Skills and Culture Clash When ‘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) 6-Barriers to Diversity Embracement 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Perception – selective & limited Ethnocentrism – acting superior Stereotyping – grouping, labeling Prejudice – inflexible opinions Prejudice - plus power 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