CULTURALDIVERSITYINTHEWORKPLACEDefinitionofCultureCulturereferstothecumulativedepositofknowledge,experience,beliefs,values,attitudesandreligionbyagroupofpeoplegenerallywithoutthinkingaboutthem.PhilosophyConsiderculturalcompetenceapriority.Cultureisdynamic,thereforeculturalcompetencemustbeanon-goingprocess.Culturalcompetenceistheeffectiveuseofsocialandinterpersonalknowledgeandskillsthatdemonstratesunderstandingandappreciationofindividualandgroupdifferencesandsimilarities.CulturalDiversityintheWorkplaceCulturaldiversityintheworkplaceprovidesstrength.Italsochallengesindividualstorespondtotheirdiverseworkenvironmenteffectively.“Valuing”individualandgroupculturaldifferencesiscriticaltoachievingtheorganizationalgoals.CulturalAwarenessKnowyourownculturalbackground.Recognizeyourownstereotypesandbiases.Gainknowledgeofculturalhistoryandheritage.Beawareofother’sperceptions.Recognizeeffectsof-ismontheothers.TeachingToleranceToleranceisdefinedas“recognitionofandrespectfortheopinions,practicesorbehaviorofothers.”Remember...Peoplelongtobecelebrated,nottolerated!FormingaTeamTherearethreeimportantcharacteristicsofteams:size,diversityandinterdependence.Teamsdiverseinskillsetsandknowledgelevels,aswellasethnicityandculture,performbetterthanthosewithidenticalskillssets.Diversityactuallydecreasesteamconflictsandenhancescreativity.AREYOUPARTOFTHETEAM?ABMHC’sCulturalDiversityCommitteeSupportsSCDMH’sFocusToteachemployeescommunicationandconflictresolutiontechniquestobeusedintheframeworkofworkingwithaculturallydiversepopulationwhosemembersmaysolveproblemsinverydifferentways.ABMHC’sCulturalDiversityCommitteeSupportsSCDMH’sMissionTosupporttheRecoverymissionthroughthecontinualdevelopmentofaculturallyaware,culturallyknowledgeable,andculturallyskilledworkforce.CulturalDiversityActivitiesMulticulturalCalendars(culturalinformationdividedbythemonth,holidayandcountry)ReadingsQuizzesFactsheetsOthertoolsthatfosterdialogueandquestionswithintheorganizationWhyareActivitiesImportant?Theyhelpcliniciansreachclientswhomaybenefitfromamorehands-onorpracticallearningexperience.Theyencourageclientstobecomeactivelyinvolvedinthetherapeuticprocesswithoutbias,ratherthanbeingpassiverecipients.HAVEAHANDINDIVERSITYFOURSTEPSTOCULTURALDIVERSITYSUCCESSI.LeadershipDrivenCreateandmaintainculturallyandlinguisticallycompetentservicesbysupporting:Multiculturalismembeddedintoallorganizationalunits.Continuedeffortstorecruit,retainanddevelopaculturallydiverseworkforce.II.StaffOrientedSupportculturalcompetencyofthestaff.III.ClientOrientedTosupportandpromotetheinvolvementofclients,familiesandadvocacygroupsintheplanninganddevelopmentofcare.IV.InformationDrivenTosupportmonitoringanddisseminationofthelevelofculturalawareness,knowledgeandskillsLifeWithoutDiversityCloseyoureyesandimaginethateveryoneintheroomisthesame.Exactlythesame!Samehair,eyecolor,height,weight,gender,race,language.Everyonedressesthesameandsoundsthesame.Nowopenyoureyes,looktoyourleftandyourright.Whatdoyousee?ONEMIND,ONERACEDOYOURHOMEWORKLearnaboutothercultures.Knowrespectfulbehavior.Identifyaculturalguide.Gainentryintothecommunity.ConclusionLearningaboutandacceptingdiversitycanimproveyourinterpersonaleffectivenessandincreaseyourpersonalandprofessionalopportunities.CulturalDiversityintheWorkplaceResource:!TheCulturalDiversityCommitteeatABMHC