
Today’s workplace is much more diverse than twenty years ago. People from all kinds of background, including nationalities, ethnicities, and religions, can be found working together in an office. Besides, differences in education levels, self-perceptions (positive or negative), and social classes also contribute to the complexity of a modern workplace.
First things first, let’s recognize the important workplace issues that are likely to create misunderstandings among team members and what a manager can do to mitigate them. Six of the most pressing issues are time management, respect for authority, teamwork and responsibility, interpretations of transparency and ethics, communication styles, and acceptance and reluctance in giving and receiving feedback.
In conclusion, managers in modern multicultural workplaces should be aware of the various background and habitual differences. It can be quite challenging to maneuver, but once you have mastered the skills of managing a multicultural workplace, the rewards can be tremendous.