Purposive

Communication and
Workplace Diversity
Prof. Aida M. Alfaro
Department of Arts and Letters Values, Beliefs, Practices, and Culture
  Explain how communication relates with workplace diversity
How it builds connections and strong rapport
How it increases productivity
How it strengthens motivation
How it leads to a positive ambiance
How it lessens conflicts, and misunderstanding

Objectives  Discuss how diversity relates with:

Values
Beliefs
Practices/traditions
Culture
 Communication is indeed an effective tool which plays an
important role in binding employees together.
Communication plays a crucial role in breaking the ice
among employees, bringing them closer to each other and
thus managing organizational diversity

The most common reason of misunderstandings and

Communication conflicts at the workplace is lack of communication between
employees and their superiors. Superiors need to
communicate with their team members on a regular basis
not only to regularly monitor their performance but also
motivate them to come out with their best every time..
Workplace Communication

• Individuals need to communicate effectively to know about

each other’s customs, traditions, religions, culture and so on. If
you do not allow them to sit together and talk, they would treat
each other as enemies and would find it extremely difficult to
work in unison.
• If employees are asked to work in isolation, they would attend
office just for the sake of it.
Workplace Communication

• Effective communication ensures individuals from varied

backgrounds, religions; communities or age groups share a
strong rapport and do not face problems working together.
• Effective communication not only manages organizational
diversity but also leads to a positive ambience at the workplace.
Diversity in the workplace refers to an organization
that intentionally employs a workforce comprised of
individuals of varying gender, religion, race, age,
ethnicity, sexual orientation, education, and other
attributes.
It means understanding that each individual is
unique, and recognizes individual differences.
The group is diverse if a wide variety of groups are
Workplace
well represented within a community Diversity
Diversity makes the work force heterogeneous
where everyone can feel comfortable bringing their
true selves to work.

• Values are basic and
fundamental beliefs that
guide or motivate attitudes
or actions. They help us to
determine what is important
to us. Values in a narrow
sense is that which is good,
desirable, or worthwhile.
 Recognition of the rights of
Commitment to equitable
all individuals to mutual
treatment and elimination of
respect; acceptance of
discrimination in all its forms at
others without biases based
all organizational levels
on differences of any kind.
When values are out of
alignment, people work
towards different goals, with  Adaptable, anti-racist,
different intentions, and with embracing cultural
different outcomes. This can differences and open to new
damage work relationships, experiences.
productivity, job satisfaction,
and creative potential.
 Belief
 the state of believing; conviction or
acceptance that certain things are true or
Belief is an idea real
that a person  faith, esp. religious faith
holds as being  trust or confidence: I have belief in his ability
true  anything believed or accepted as true; esp.,
a creed, doctrine, or tenet
 an opinion; expectation; judgment: my belief
is that he'll come
 Deadlines are taken seriously so make sure you stick to them – A method, procedure,
remember “time is money” in the U.S. process, or rule used in a
 Anyone wanting to establish an essential business relationship in particular field or
Asia must be present for long periods of time, must be able enjoy profession; a set of these
the country in which they find themselves, and must get to know its regarded as standard
residents.
 Handshakes are the typical form of physical greeting in the Middle Practices
East, but are likely to last longer than Westerners are used to. It is
recommended that you wait for the other person to withdraw his/her
hand before you do.
 In most, if not all, Asian cultures, there
is much more pressure on women than
men regarding physical appearances.
For men in Asia, the focus of attention
is more on educational and
occupational attainment.
Culture is defined as a As per the Arabic culinary culture and
set of values, lifestyle, guests are always offered
snacks, tea or coffee, and refusing
practices, traditions or these offers is considered rude since
beliefs a group shares, they present their friendship and
respect together with these.
whether due to age,
race or ethnicity, In the Arabic culture, it is more
appropriate for you to pick up anything
religion or gender. you are served with your right hand.
 Low context culture relies more on
explicit communication
Explicit communication refers to
specific information conveyed in
written or spoken words.
Information in direct, and in precise
ways which sometimes can be
considered rude
Low context culture Information in a message is spelled
out and defined.
Relationships begin and end quickly
 High Context relies on implicit
communication which is expressed indirectly
using non-verbal cues, tone, gestures yet
well understood.
High context refers to societies or groups
where people have close connections over
a long period of time. (Long term
relationships)
Prefers face-to-face communication over
electronic technology
High-context cultures are collectivist, value
High context culture interpersonal relationships, and have
members that form stable, close
relationships.
In high-context communication, a message
cannot be understood without a great deal
of background information.
High and Low Context Cultures
Cultural Theory: Ethnocentrism

• Ethnocentrism is a belief in the superiority of your own culture.

• Ethnocentrism leads us to make false assumptions about cultural
differences.
• By evaluating "them" by what we are best at, we miss the many
other aspects of life that they often handle more competently than
we do.
Examples of Ethnocentric Thinking
Cultural Theory: Xenocentrism

• The opposite of ethnocentrism is xenocentrism. Xenocentrism

means preferring ideas and things from other cultures over ideas
and things from your own culture. At the heart of xenocentrism is
an assumption (conscious or unconscious) that other cultures are
superior to your own.
Examples of Xenocentrism

Americans belief that French or Spanish wine is superior to what is

produced by American vineyards.
The belief that cheeses in France are far superior to those in the
United States
The concept that a quality product can't be purchased in one's
native country
Cultural Theory: Stereotyping

Stereotypes are characteristics imposed upon groups of people

because of their race, nationality, and sexual orientation.
A widely held but fixed and oversimplified image or idea of a
particular type of person or thing.
 Mexican stereotypes suggest that all Mexicans are lazy and came
into America illegally.
 All Arabs and Muslims are terrorists.
 Homosexuality is immoral, wrong and an abomination.
 Activity: Reading/Listening Activity

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DSewKRYoE4I

1. What could you do to avoid cultural miscommunication in the workplace?

2. Do some note taking while viewing. Take note of the major concepts that
are explained in the presentation.
3. Be ready for a quiz in class on Monday