Page 105 - Perfect Phrases for Motivating and Rewarding

A Culturally Diverse Workforce

The Motivational Mindset
■ Ensure that everyone is treated equally. Do not tolerate
discrimination based on any difference. Be aware of your own
biases and limiting perceptions so you can keep yourself, as
well as others, in check.
■ Even a culturally homogeneous group benefits from diversities
in areas such as age or educational background; the culturally
diverse workforce brings a multitude of benefits through a
broadened set of perspectives.
■ Diversity within the workforce increases an organization’s
understanding of a diverse customer base.
■ Whether a culturally diverse workforce is seen or experienced
as an advantage is a matter of perspective. It does often
present unique challenges and those who see any change as a
downside will be quick to see diversity as a negative. Your job
as motivator is to focus on the positive aspects and navigate
the hurdles.
■ Take advantage of everyone’s unique strengths. Respect
differences and build on common values.
■ Model and demand sensitivity to accents and language
differences. As possible, offer English classes for those who
don’t speak English and foreign language classes for those
who supervise or manage employees with limited English
abilities.
■ English speakers can be discouraged and feel left out when
bilingual employees are speaking other languages around
them. Make clear that same-language communication among
employees is the ideal, when possible. Communication
is challenging enough when we’re all speaking the same
language.
■ Don’t tell (or allow) jokes about race, religion, gender, or
nationality—including the joke-teller’s own. Even when we

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