Everyone knows that diversity will deliver more diverse ideas and solutions, but with so many people from different backgrounds, how do you ensure everyone works together well? Building relationships among folks from different backgrounds can be challenging, but it isn’t impossible. Let’s explore this together.
The Value of Diversity in Teams
Having a diverse team provides several benefits to the organization. It creates a super team of sorts with different perspectives shared. Performance is enhanced by fostering creativity. When one person presents a novel idea of diversity, it sparks more ideas from other team members, improving the opportunities to build unique solutions. Decision-making is also improved.
With so many options, finding the best one that benefits the most could be difficult. However, a diverse group of people will also hear various potential positive and negative reasons for each solution. This reduces the chances of failure by finding the flaws earlier in the process. Don’t forget productivity! With a diverse group, everyone will feel energized and contribute their best to the overall project. As the ideas flow from others, team members will feel empowered to invest their strengths into the group.
Profit in the Diversity of Teams
A diverse team is proven to lead to greater profitability. The McKinsey Study on Diversity & Profitability found that companies whose leadership teams were at the top for diversity performed 33% better in profitability. And we can’t ignore gender diversity as well. A Credit Suisse analysis of companies showed that at least one female board member would result in higher income growth and higher returns on equity.
How does all of this come out of diversity? When you have people with different experiences and backgrounds, they will challenge the things that some team members would assume to be true. They present thoughts with a broader range, so the group isn’t working off the same tired things they know to be true. With a broader perspective of truths, a team can find more creative solutions. They find more alternatives to what is already being done. And the outcomes are better as a result.
Challenges in Building Strong Relationships
Communication differences will be a challenge for the new team. Language differences are the most obvious challenge that can lead to misunderstandings. Certain turns of phrase and jargon might not be shared. So it’s important to use clear language when working together, and when there’s any confusion or lack of understanding, asking questions can prevent a roadblock.
Individuals who come from different cultural backgrounds may have different values or taboos. Some may be more direct in approaching things, and others may desire a more roundabout way of approaching conflict or challenges. When this happens, a good team leader should smooth things over, and every individual needs to express exactly what concerns them and why. Only through constant communication can the team be truly successful.
Some people prefer communicating in different ways. In our modern world, we aren’t always physically present with each other. In this case, everyone must be clear about what communication style works best for them and flexible so the team can work together efficiently. For example, one person might prefer email, while another would prefer a phone call or video meeting.
Additionally, diverse groups may have individuals who are neurodiverse, such as being autistic or having ADHD. For these individuals, communication style isn’t just a matter of preference since some forms of communication may cause them excessive stress and anxiety. A team leader should be sensitive to this and help the rest of the team understand and adjust accordingly.
This isn’t a comprehensive list of challenges, however. A team leader should work with each team member to learn about them and create an environment where everyone can be their best. The most important key to success is communication. Everyone should share their concerns so there aren’t any misunderstandings. Turn roadblocks into speed bumps so the team can move forward as efficiently and productively as possible. But always with sensitivity to differences.
Strategies for Strengthening Relationships
As mentioned above, the most important strategy is communication. Having a receptive, strong leader who fosters good listening skills goes a long way to bringing everyone together. There should be a culture of open communication, with everyone encouraged to speak up when they have a question and not feel that they will be judged for needing clarification. Everyone must be made to feel that they are being respected and that their concerns are heard.
Having someone express their concerns is meaningless if there is no action. Even if their preferred result isn’t possible, some kind of compromise should be reached. If the team includes people with very different cultural backgrounds, educating everyone on those differences can help prevent misunderstandings and unintended insults
. Individuals in the team should be responsible for learning, but the team leader can foster a culture of constant education, too. Once those differences are learned, celebrate each other’s cultures. A food day where people bring dishes from their culture or even participate in cultural events can create unity.
Conclusion
A diverse team, working together as a harmonious whole, can yield amazing results. They can create new and novel solutions, increase profitability, and have better relationships, which leads to loyalty and a positive work environment. Leaders should take steps to ensure they are creating businesses with as diverse a workforce as possible. Include people of different genders, ethnic groups, cultural backgrounds, disability, and neurodiversity.
Think of all that can be accomplished when the ideas of so many different people come together! What is the makeup of the people you work with? It’s time to find out. Your life, both at work and personally, will be richer if you add diversity. Additionally, whether you’re a leader at work or home, ask yourself what actions you can take to ensure your teams are as diverse as possible.
