Managing diversity effectively
In today’s workplace, it is important to develop diverse people skills. Managers and leaders need to manage diversity effectively. Discuss the following:
In your opinion, what psychological process (feelings, actions, or thoughts) is most important for managers and leaders when leading a diverse team? Why?
How difficult is it for individuals to change their feelings, actions, or thoughts about diversity issues?
Base your response on the course materials for this week, online research, and your own experience. Be sure to write your responses using appropriate language, establishing professionalism, and demonstrating sensitivity to all groups. Provide both personal examples and research citations to support your answer.
Sample Solution
When it comes to managing a diverse team, the most important psychological process for managers and leaders is developing an understanding of their team members’ differences. By taking the time to learn about their different backgrounds, cultures, experiences and perspectives, managers can become better equipped to manage diversity effectively (Habib et al., 2020). This helps foster a sense of inclusion in the workplace while also allowing managers to tailor their communication style in order to reach each individual on their team (Borodkin et al., 2019). Additionally, by recognizing these differences among team members, managers can also create an environment where everyone feels respected and valued for who they are.
Another important psychological process when leading a diverse team is having a growth mindset. That is, having an open attitude that allows new ideas and perspectives be taken into account (Dweck & Leggett, 1988). In this way, managers can facilitate more meaningful conversations that encourage collaboration instead of confrontation between different groups. This creates an atmosphere of mutual respect which in turn contributes towards creating a productive and successful workforce (Winslow & O’Connor-Kreps, 2018).