Managing a Diverse Team

The population as a whole is becoming ever more diverse. Naturally, these societal changes are mirrored in the workplace. The most forward-looking organizations recognize the importance of managing a diverse workforce effectively. In turn, those managers who have the skills to lead a diverse team successfully are highly valued. This course describes what diversity is, including its benefits. It also covers how to prepare to manage a diverse team by understanding key diversity issues and setting ground rules. Finally, it delineates techniques for managing a diverse team. Materials designed to support blended learning activities aligned with this course are available from the Resources Page.

After completing this topics, you should be able to

Identify the benefits of being able to manage a diverse team effectively
Recognize strategies for preparing to manage a diverse team
Identify techniques for managing a diverse team

Strategies for Preparing to Manage a Diverse Team

Proactive preparation enhances leaders' abilities to use team members' strengths and avoid their weaknesses, getting the most out of their teams. Preparation is especially important when you have a diverse team, with team members who may have very different perspectives, work styles, and communication skills.

 

Techniques for Managing a Diverse Team

Think about a great manager who's really motivated you in the past. What comes to mind? Many people describe such managers as fair, respectful, encouraging, objective, clear, and good listeners. The key in a diverse work environment is to be this way with everyone, and not only with the employees you feel comfortable with. Managing a diverse team requires a commitment to demonstrate these kinds of behaviors with everyone on the team.

Preparing to Manage a Diverse Team

A diverse team gives you a wide pool of skills and ideas from different perspectives. This can lead to enhanced creativity and better team decisions. But you need a proactive management approach to achieve these benefits, including planning for and committing to diversity as a core strength. Preparation can help your team achieve synergy, where the team is greater than the sum of the individual members.

Benefits of Managing a Diverse Team

If you were to ask a room full of people to each define the term "diversity," how many different answers do you think you'd get? You'd probably get as many definitions of the term as there are people in the room. That's because diversity isn't just about how people look or where they come from. It's about differences, but not just differences in gender, race, or class. Diversity encompasses other differences as well – for example, in abilities or values and beliefs.