Question

Identify at least five diverse groups in an organization and identify communication skills and tools that might work best when communicating with those in a diverse or multicultural setting.

Answer 1

the various diverse groups in an organisation are :

1. age

There’s lots of research on the varying characteristics of different generations: Baby Boomers, Generation X, Millennials, and so on. While some of these categories can be over-simplifications, it’s certainly true that people of different ages tend to think differently and have very different experiences. Having people of different ages is a great way to achieve that. The younger employees can keep you up-to-date with the latest technology and see possibilities that people stuck in 20th-century models may not appreciate. And older employees can draw on a much broader range of experiences, including their memories of all the times that the “next big thing” has come crashing down.

2. race and ethnicity

"Race" and "ethnicity" are complex terms and often used interchangeably. These terms were initially separated to designate “race” as a biological quality and “ethnicity” as a cultural phenomenon.

3. gender

This is one of the simplest categories. Roughly half of the people in the world are women. If women don’t make-up around half of your workforce, you need to examine why that is and take action to achieve a better balance.

4. sexual orientation

A person’s sexual orientation refers to:"an individual's enduring physical, romantic and/ or emotional attraction to members of the same and/or opposite sex, including lesbian, gay, bisexual, and heterosexual (straight) orientations"

5. religion

Religious discrimination in the workplace is a real problem. a research was done to find the effect of religion on hiring. researchers sent out 9,600 job applications with résumés that were the same except for one detail: whether the person’s experience was with a religious or non-religious student group. Résumés that made no religious reference received 20% more favourable responses from employers. Those mentioning a Muslim student group fared the worst, and the other religions came somewhere in the middle.

communication skills for a multicultural setting :

1. Learn how the source culture best receives communications

managers should analyze their audience to find the best way to communicate a message. People from some cultures don't trust information that comes directly from a manager, for example, preferring that the word comes instead from a leader of the employee group, a headman, or shop foreman.

2. Train international employees early and often.

Many of the pitfalls of misunderstanding and cultural confusion can be prevented with early and ongoing training.

3. Train other employees as well.

The Boston Consulting Group (BCG) has training programs to ensure that its employees not only understand the mission of the company, but also the significance of diversity, both within the workplace and among clients.

4. Assign mentors

Managers need to understand the important role they play in helping a new employee become an important contributor, no matter what her country of origin. Firstly, assign a mentor in the business operation, preferably a well-respected person from the department who can assist in helping ease integration. Secondly, if a spouse or family is involved in the move, become involved in making them feel comfortable with the change.

5. Practice open-door communication—carefully

Keep in mind that the best way to bridge the communication gap is to set a good example. Do not wait for them to come through the open door, go to them. Ask them about their concerns and questions. Nothing is more credible than setting the example. An open door goes both ways.

6. In company-wide communications, avoid jargon and slang.

Employees from outside the U.S. may have difficulty understanding company communication that uses U.S. jargon and slang, as well as any number of culture-specific idioms.

7. Play by the rules and stick to business.

ensure that the company's mission and goals are communicated clearly and that the workplace is driven by business requirements rather than personal preferences.