8 Tips to Integrate a Multicultural Workforce
In the age of globalization, workforces all over the world are becoming more culturally diverse. In many cases workers from different ethnic settings huddle within their own cliques and seldom venture to integrate with coworkers from other groups. This is often the situation due to a lack of understanding and trust between members of the various factions represented in the company. This hub presents 10 ways to overcome barriers and integrate a multicultural workforce.
1. Make Integration a Priority
The first point to overcome obstacles to integration in a multicultural workforce is make it a priority. If business executives and organizarional leaders do not make integration a priority it will never happen.
2. Hire a Cross-Cultural Consultant
Bringing cross-cultural workers together is not an easy endeavor and as such it takes a special set of competencies. If leaders in an enterprise are serious about instilling cooperation, then they should hire a consultant with the expertise to bring it to fruition.
3. Engage in Cross-Cultural Skills Training
Regardless of whether an organization hires a specialist or not, executives of companies with multinational workers must engage in some sort of cross-cultural skills training to educate their staff members about how to get along with coworkers from other ethnic backgrounds.
4. Form Multicultural Discussion Groups
Another tip for integrating a multicultural workforce is to form discussion groups made up of members from various cultural factions to discuss differences. This will help employees to gain a better understanding of each other.
5. Establish Neutral Codes of Conduct
Each culture has its own set of customs and acceptable mannerisms. Sometimes barriers are created because a worker from one ethnic group does something to violate the cultural norm of another. Establishing neutral codes of conduct that apply to everyone will lessen this problem.
Three more tips for integrating multicultural teams are:
6. Promote without Ethnic Bias
7. Maintain an Open Door Policy for all Employees
8. Encourage Interaction Outside of Work
