Cultural diverstiy within your business is an opportunity
and needs to be embraced as one. Just take a look around
you. Opportunity abounds because our world is a diverse
place. Whether you have come to realize it or not as a
small business owner, your awareness and respect of
cultural diversity in the workplace truly matters to your
employees and your client base. If you want your business
to be successful and competitive in the future, you will
have to utilize these human resources and participate in
these diversity trends. As we move further along in the
21st century, it will be necessary for business owners to
compete in a more global arena. And that will apply to even
the smallest small business. Because whether your company
is global or not you will eventually have to compete with
those that are.
Successfully managing cultural diversity in the workplace
is a challenge, but one that can be overcome and taken
advantage of. The people you hire will always have diverse
cultural backgrounds. And that culture is not just based on
the color of their skin. They come from different
countries, states, regions, and neighborhoods. They can
tell you things about places you've probably never been and
are not likely to visit anytime soon. They'll be of
different genders and social backgrounds. And they'll
things know of things that can impact your business either
now or in the future.
Cultural diversity in the workplace can help improve the
company's competitive position in the marketplace.
Marketing programs nowadays are constantly geared toward
individual ethnic groups. Take for example the changes that
have come to big box stores such as Walmart and Target.
Once upon a time they believed that what sold well in
places like Green Bay, Wisconsin and Seattle, Washington
would sell just as well in San Antonio, Texas, and San
Diego, California. They didn't care about who the actual
consumers in those areas were.
Everybody wants the same things right? So all their stores
were shipped the same things. Well they've since woken up
to the truth. Different cultures demand different
products! Now many of the largest chains in the world have
given their stores the ability and resources to buy locally.
The management of cultural diversity in the workplace can
be considered a response to the need to recognize, respect
and capitalize on the different backgrounds in our society
in terms of race, ethnicity, and gender. Whether you
realize it or not every day you are exposed to different
forms of cultural diversity. From what you watch on tv,
where you shop, and the places you vacation.
Your small business is a team and just like any team it
should be built to take advantage of its strengths and to
minimize its weaknesses. Differences among team members can
strengthen the bonds formed with clients and customers
throughout the world. Ethnic diversity in the workplace
enables businesses to serve a broader base of clients with
ease. Workers can better relate with clients because more
often than not your clients are likely to be just as
diverse as you. In diversity you'll find that you share a
lot of common ground with your clients. In diversity you'll
find strength!
Businesses that have incorporated diverse training into
their strategies have found that the benefits of
incorporating diverse talent into the workforce not only
improves productivity, but also creates a well balanced
pool of knowledge, experience and creativity. Promoting
diversity within the workplace can produce lasting results.
Results that will reverberate within your business for many
years to come.
Promoting cultural and ethnic diversity in the workplace
should begin before you hire even your first employee. You
need to be aware of its strength and the strength that can
be brought to your organization by embracing it!
----------------------------------------------------
Cash Miller is an experienced entrepreneur and speaker who
has spent over a decade as a small business owner. His
years of experience in small business cover such topics as
planning, management, marketing, human resources,
ecommerce, and taxation. If you are looking for more
information on this subject and others related to starting
and running a small business you can visit his website at
http://www.SmallBusinessDelivered.com
No comments:
Post a Comment