FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

The Discovering Diversity Profile®

Do "Diversity Efforts" force us to move apart rather than come together?

Workplaces today are in transition between doing things the old way and adopting newer, more appropriate procedures for managing diversity. In earlier workplaces, employees often divided into groups based on gender, race and seniority or level of employment. Today, the emphasis is on encouraging members of the workforce to function together effectively, and on reducing barriers to communication often found in hierarchies built on status and seniority.

Why all the hurry to have me look at my attitudes and behavior?

We are living in a time of great social change. The fast rate of change makes myths and stereotypes particularly dangerous and counter productive to our ambitions and success in the workplace.

As a manger, how should I respond to this new wave of awareness?

Managing a diverse workforce is a large part of management responsibilities in today’s work environment. We must be aware of how our behavior and actions affect the productivity of others and vice versa. Management must be skilled at identifying appropriate business conduct, as well as the inappropriate actions / behaviors of employees. For example, speaking of people as "the disadvantaged" separates them out as a group. Being aware of diverse workforce issues helps people avoid over-generalizations about those who are different. From a management perspective, it is important to help employees avoid making such generalizations.

As a manager, how do I respond to the increase in diversity in the workplace when there are many other business priorities to consider?

Work is one of the most valued activities in American culture (Hofstede, 1984). The prominent view today sees the work group, rather than the individual, as the key to productivity. Any organization is more productive when people work together to create, build, harvest fix, or teach. Therefore, the time and attention given to help people enjoy working together pays off in greater job satisfaction and overall productivity.

How can I develop a seminar or workshop around this profile?

The Discovering Diversity Profile Facilitator’s Kit contains a totally scripted full-day and half-day seminars, complete with overheads, handouts, case studies and interactive exercises.

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