Leading a Diverse Team
Leading a Diverse Team
Summary
Although leading a diverse team may be challenging, there are many benefits. Trainings, in diversity, are a method many companies use to help employees cope/deal with the differences. With discrimination, still an issue, leadership is still under pressure to find a solution. Though the challenges, a common goal in most organizations is to build an acceptance and creating a sense of belonging.
Experiences
The article states, “Often employees who strive to effectively change and adapt work behaviors must do so in spite of peer reactions and organizational structures”. Working for a small corporate office with branches in seven different states, I find this statement to be very true. One of my daily tasks is to reconcile each facility’s cash and credit card intake before the day can be closed. If a discrepancy arises, I have to be careful how I let the facility know. Not only is there diversity in culture but each facility has their own way, or liking, of proceeding with things. Some of the places like a simple, “This is out of balance. Please look into this and let me know what you find.” while other places need it laid out, in detail, what is incorrect. It often takes experience to find what works best. Another part of the article relates to subtle discrimination still being around. I know that this discrimination relates to the bringing up of a person but I wonder if it is more of a generational thing. I had a few co – workers, in their early 50s, talking about the Paula Dean incident. They feel as if she should not be held accountable for what she said, not only because the incident was several years ago but because she was brought up in a time and place where people didn’t think about it. They considered her comment as norm. Although my colleagues are cautious with actions, one can tell, they are still dealing/coping with discrimination. Times, and ways, are constantly changing and I wonder if diversity, in the work place,
Summary
Although leading a diverse team may be challenging, there are many benefits. Trainings, in diversity, are a method many companies use to help employees cope/deal with the differences. With discrimination, still an issue, leadership is still under pressure to find a solution. Though the challenges, a common goal in most organizations is to build an acceptance and creating a sense of belonging.
Experiences
The article states, “Often employees who strive to effectively change and adapt work behaviors must do so in spite of peer reactions and organizational structures”. Working for a small corporate office with branches in seven different states, I find this statement to be very true. One of my daily tasks is to reconcile each facility’s cash and credit card intake before the day can be closed. If a discrepancy arises, I have to be careful how I let the facility know. Not only is there diversity in culture but each facility has their own way, or liking, of proceeding with things. Some of the places like a simple, “This is out of balance. Please look into this and let me know what you find.” while other places need it laid out, in detail, what is incorrect. It often takes experience to find what works best. Another part of the article relates to subtle discrimination still being around. I know that this discrimination relates to the bringing up of a person but I wonder if it is more of a generational thing. I had a few co – workers, in their early 50s, talking about the Paula Dean incident. They feel as if she should not be held accountable for what she said, not only because the incident was several years ago but because she was brought up in a time and place where people didn’t think about it. They considered her comment as norm. Although my colleagues are cautious with actions, one can tell, they are still dealing/coping with discrimination. Times, and ways, are constantly changing and I wonder if diversity, in the work place,
References: Combs, G. M. (2002). Meeting the leadership challenge of a diverse and pluralistic workplace: Implications of self-efficacy for diversity training. Journal of Leadership & Organizational Studies, 8(4), 1-16. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/203138988?accountid=38569