Workplace diversity has proven to have immense benefits. A study by McKinsey & Company found, racially and ethnically diverse companies are 35 percent more likely outperform industry competitors, and gender diverse companies are 15 percent more likely to do the same. Managing a diverse team, however, comes with certain challenges. Here’s how to manage a team of different personalities effectively.
Recognize Everyone’s Unique Talents
Each team member has something to bring to the table. One person may be highly creative, another may be analytical, another may have great listening skills and so on. It’s important you recognize and appreciate everyone’s unique talents because this instills a sense of confidence in them and creates an environment where your employees want to contribute.
Not only does this raise engagement levels, it allows you to extract each employee’s full potential. So be quick to show praise, and allow individual team members to be themselves.
Maintain Open Communication
It’s equally important to keep communication flowing so you stay on the same page with your team. “Give frequent coaching and feedback on how they are doing,” suggests Partners in Leadership. “The benefit of coaching is building your bench strength, aligning around the same goals, and providing insights to the employee where they could have an even greater impact.”
Encourage Input
While some employees may be quick to voice their opinions and contribute ideas, others are a bit more reserved about it. But the great thing about having a diverse team is all the different perspectives you get. So it’s important to encourage individuals to offer their input and create an atmosphere where they feel comfortable doing so. In other words, try to get everyone involved.
Provide Development Opportunities
Being able to move ahead and have career development opportunities is important for many workers, especially younger ones. In fact, 87 percent of millennials say it’s important to them in a job. You can capitalize on the strengths of a diverse team even more by giving those who thrive a chance to move up the ladder. This type of system rewards positive behavior and can deeply increase loyalty.
There’s no denying the impact of team diversity. But to truly get the most from your team, you need to effectively manage employees. Following these tips should enable you to do so and build a positive working environment.
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