How to Manage a Culturally Diverse Group When You Work In Canada
Today’s organizations are extremely diverse, which makes it necessary for workers to have the ability to work in diverse cultures. This especially the case for those who are planning to work in Canada, as this country is known to have the most diverse workplace in the world.
Without a doubt, it could be a big challenge to belong in a multicultural environment where people differ so much in terms of their beliefs, values and background. These differences can result in resistance to leadership as there is a possibility that other people will not trust and understand you. If you were to be a leader in a diverse organization, this is something you should be aware of as it can adversely affect the effectiveness of your leadership.
Nevertheless, there are things you can do as a leader to avoid culturally-specific conflicts in the workplace, especially if you haven’t been in the organization for a long time.
1. Recognize your own personal preferences, style and even biases.
Knowing your own thoughts about diversity is critical if you want to successfully lead a group that has mixed cultures. You may not be aware of it, but exposing your style and nature of leadership and working will make a difference in your job. Self-awareness also helps you recognize the needs of the people around you.
2. Acknowledge the uniqueness of each part of your organization.
Every department and individual in your organization has their own way of conducting their work and even communicating with one another, and this is something you should acknowledge. This will help you become more open-minded on what each of your subordinates need from your leadership.
3. Let your employees know of your desire to be sensitive to their culture.
The perfect time to do this is during your first meeting with your employees. It is important that you tell them how much you know about diversity – the challenges of working with different people having different backgrounds. It will do you well also if you ask them to help you get a better understanding of the culture in the organization.
4. Seriously think about getting a representative or a mentor from the organization.
It may take a while before you get accustomed to your big role in a diverse organization, especially that you have to understand first the nature of the organization. This could be tough when you have to do it on your own. By working with a mentor, it will be much easier for you to develop the skills required for you to become a successful leader. The good thing is that it is now very common for organizations to offer coaching or mentoring programs for to their employees and executives. These are the same opportunities you will have when you decide to work in Canada.