Working with a diverse team is infamous with its challenges. However, it’s not impossible to tackle the problems with these 3 tips.
Due to the increasing development of technology and the internet, the geographical barrier between countries becomes thinner. As a result, this increases the mobility and labor movement across the world, creating a more diverse workforce.
Of course, working with a diverse workforce has a different employer–employees relationship from the usual homogenous team. It requires you to collaborate with people from different races, cultures, and ethnicities. While this could be an exciting experience, this also adds challenges like language barrier and different cultural perspectives. With these, it can be difficult for the team to unite and achieve a certain objective together.
Addressing such issues is crucial for organizations with diverse teams. Failing to overcome this issue will disrupt employee productivity, and even lead to reduced employee retention. Below, we share several tips to prevent and overcome problems that might arise when working with a diverse team.
Establish a DE&I Policy
Focusing on developing a clear Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DE&I) policy should be a top priority if you have or are planning to have a diverse team working under your organization. Even with a non-judgmental team, there might be unconscious biases or outdated practices that can impact the team in a bad way.
Creating a comprehensive DE&I policy is important to cultivate a positive work environment for everyone, Omni stated. The scope and applicability of the policy should be clear, Omni continued, and it should be regularly monitored. Show that your company is committed to create a space where all team members are respected and empowered, regardless of their background.
Involve Everyone
Having a diverse team can improve operational achievement, Indeed stated. This is because each team member will bring new perspectives and solutions to solve organizational problems. Thus, it’s important to involve everyone during a team meeting or other activity that requires all members to participate. This is why it’s important to create a safe space for everyone to speak their mind without fear of discrimination over things like language barriers.
Be an Active Listener
In a multicultural team, the chance of misunderstanding is higher. Even if everyone uses English as the main language, sometimes different regions might have different meanings for some words. To minimize this issue, be an active and understanding listener. Whenever a team member brings out an idea, take it as an opportunity to understand more about their perspective and their cultural background.
When something is difficult to understand, don’t immediately jump to conclusions. It’s better to rephrase the idea according to your understanding, to confirm that you two are on the same page.
Final Thoughts
Essentially, working with a diverse team means being more patient and understanding towards others. Despite the difference in backgrounds, remember that everyone shares a similar goal. If it’s done right, at the end of the day, the benefit of working with people from various cultures will outweigh the challenges.
Read also: 8 Exceptional Ways to Stay Inspired and Productive at Work
