If you haven’t experienced this already, as a leader/manager you will have to learn how to lead and manage a multicultural department or organization. It can be challenging, but well managed, it can bring with it great strength and rewards. Consider the following. In order to create a multicultural organization, at what level on the Tolerance Scale is it reasonable to expect employees to interact with each other? What is your role as a leader if you observe repeated behavior that is below the level you want for your organization?
In an ideal world, people would work together as adults, leaving behind their “hang-ups”. Co-workers would not only accept one another, they would actually appreciate others. In valuing others’ talents and differences, these kinds of tolerance levels would likely promote healthy company cultures and good productivity.
In reality, acceptance seems like a good deal if we can get it. Tolerance is probably more common in the workplace. Teams can still work together fairly effectively as long as team members tolerate each other, but the quality of work is going to suffer. Coworkers that simply tolerate each other aren’t as likely to pull together as a team in tough situations.
Cox (2001, ch. 3) underlines the importance of strong leadership. True and effective leadership comes with a tremendous amount of responsibility. It’s up to management to make it clear what is expected from their employees. It’s also important to model the desired kind of behavior. Clear communications and effective demonstration of what is acceptable is crucial.
As a manager witnesses repeated substandard behavior, he must address it right away. Although consequences may be called for in certain situations, a proactive approach may be more productive. Cultural diversity training shouldn’t end at the training session. Positive behaviors should not only be expected and promoted, they should also be modeled.
Cox, T., Jr. (2001). Creating the multicultural organization: A strategy for capturing the power of diversity. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
