Valuing Diversity

The labor market is dramatically changing.

Understanding and managing people who are similar to us can be challenging, but understanding and managing those who are dissimilar from us and from each other is tougher. As the workplace becomes more diverse and as business becomes more global, managers must understand how cultural diversity affects the expectations and behavior of everyone in the organization.

The labor market is dramatically changing. Most countries are experiencing an increase in the age of their workforce, increased immigration, and, in many, a rapid increase in the number of working women. The globalization of business also brings with it a cross-cultural mandate. With more businesses selling and manufacturing products and services abroad, managers increasingly see the need to ensure that their employees can relate to customers from many different cultures. Rich McGinn, of US telecommunications giant Lucent Technologies, said: "We are in a war for talent. And the only way you can meet your business imperatives is to have all people as part of your talent pool." Workers who believe that their differences are not merely tolerated but valued by their employer are more likely to be loyal, productive, and committed.

ACTION POINT: Value the differences in your people.