Diversity is most often associated with ethnic background, however the broader scope of diversity includes, according to Bovee & Thill the authors of Business Communication Today, "all the characteristics and experiences that define each of us as individuals. Merck pharmaceutical company was able to identify separate dimensions of diversity in its discussions of workforce diversity which included race, age, military experience, parental status, marital status, and thinking style. These characteristics can have a reflective effect on the way individuals communication with each other in a business environment.
I am intrigued by this topic because in today's global market place companies are doing business and communicating with other companies from various regions within the global market place as these companies explore new growth opportunities. There are companies in and of them that are global and there is a great possibility that you will have to work with individuals or counterparts within your company who are working from a different region in the world, where the language and culture is different from yours. There may be instances where the way of doing business even though it is within the same company, is vastly different to the way you are used to doing business, however it may be acceptable to the company's standards in based upon the culture in a given region.
Additionally, I think that in big market or metropolitan areas like the New York market area, the diverse pool of potential talented employees give employers a competitive advantage because these diverse employees offer a broader range of views and ideas and have to ability the enhance a company's strategy relative to marketing to individuals of targeted cultural background.
While there are advantages to diversity in the work place there are also challenges relative to intercultural communication. These challenges are faced by the supervisory personnel within companies as they are challenged with connecting to and motivating their diverse workforce. In addition to connecting to and motivating their diverse workforce, the supervisors must also work tirelessly towards fostering cooperation and harmony amongst their diverse workforce. To accomplish this, managers should be aware that culture influences everything about communication including but not limited to language, nonverbal signs, word meaning, time and space issues and rules of human relationship. Managers should also be mindful that a company's cultural diversity affects how its business messages are conceived, composed, delivered, received and interpreted.
Furthermore, in sensitizing for a diverse workplace individuals should be aware of cultural variations relative to contextual differences. In today's diverse global market place, to be successful individuals must be sensitive to high-context cultures, where individuals rely heavily on nonverbal actions and environmental settings to convey meaning versus low-context context cultures, where individual rely more on explicit verbal communication much like the way individuals in the United States communicate. Individuals in the United States tend to say what exactly they intend to convey in their message and seldom require environmental settings for interpretations.
In a Wall Street Journal article title "Workplace Deals Sealed With a Kiss" by Sue Shellenbarger, she tackles diversity and communication in the workplace relative to contextual differences. In this article Sue discusses how the "right" response relative to how individuals approach and greet each other depends on the shifting workplace culture, which is shaped by increasing international diversity, age differences and worker's casual communications styles. Sue further indicates that as a result of the confusion, many people hesitate or can even become paralyzed relative to the uncertainty over what is appropriate. Sue gave an example of how Ashley M. Harris, who worked for a San Antonio, Texas public relations agency which was very "huggy" and had a culture where it was normal to walk into a meeting and give your client a kiss on the cheek and a hug, while greeting them. However at a university where she later worked, she threw her arms around a former professor of hers, who immediately back away. The former professor was more comfortable with a handshake. Sue further discussed that the traditional handshake is still the rule in finance, banking and law, unless you are celebrating someone's promotion or a new job. At this time a hug or a pat on the back is acceptable. Sue indicated that kisses and hugs are welcomed by entertainers and restaurateurs, and many twentysomething guys favor bro-hugs. Additionally, Sue indicated that the four generations currently work in the word often differ on what is suitable, with Generation-Y workers often viewing greetings as a chance to establish distinct identity.
Sue's article solidifies why individuals should understand and be sensitive to the diverse cultures of the global market place. Being understanding and sensitive to the varying cultures of their working environment puts the individuals in the position where they can appropriately meet and greet their co-workers.
No comments:
Post a Comment