Managing Diversity in Multicultural Teams

MODULE III:
CULTURAL SENSITIVITY
Topic 4: Working in
Multicultural Teams

Module III:
CULTURAL
SENSITIVITY
Topic 4: Working in
multicultural teams
Summary
In this topic, you will learn about the importance of
working as a team.
You will also learn strategies for managing diversity
and working in group.
Summary
The importance of working as a
team.
Strategies for managing
diversity and working in group
33 Tips on Working in
Multicultural Teams
Tasks
What does it mean to work in a multicultural team? (2´44´´)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HYf-RL1-D04

Module III:
CULTURAL
SENSITIVITY
Topic 4: Working in
multicultural teams
The importance of
working as a team
There is a direct link between effective teamwork
and the quality of patient care.
However, teamwork is not an automatic
consequence of placing people together.
The first step in learning to work in a team should
take place early in the education of a healthcare
professional.
A healthcare team needs team members that can:
• work together
• communicate effectively
• anticipate and meet other team member’s needs
• show and inspire confidence
All that results in a coordinated collective action.
(Lerner, Magrane & Friedman, 2009)
Summary
team.
Multicultural Teams
Tasks

Module III:
CULTURAL
SENSITIVITY
Topic 4: Working in
multicultural teams
diversity and working in
group
Source:
Summary
team.
Multicultural Teams
Tasks

1. Flexibility is the key to working in a multicultural
environment; the work environment always
demands flexibility on your part, but in a
multicultural environment the adaptation becomes
all the more important.
2. Develop understanding for different cultures and
values and respect those differences.
3. Work culture differs across the globe; Western
office environments might appreciate candid
views from employees but you will likely come
across co-workers from other continents who
have more respect for authority, sometimes
irrespective of how insane the order sounds to
them, or how they can themselves propose
something far better.
Module III:
CULTURAL
SENSITIVITY
Topic 4: Working in
multicultural teams
Multicultural Teams
To learn more (whole text): https://www.commisceo-global.com/blog/33-
tips-on-working-in-multicultural-teams
Summary
team.
Multicultural Teams
Tasks

4. Do not overkill with sweeping generalizations.
5. Regardless of the religion, ethnic or cultural
background of a person, everyone has to be
treated ‘fairly’.
6. Make sure you convey your desire to be
sensitive to another’s culture early enough.
7. Often enough, people like to speak and not
listen but how often have you seen that the best of
friends is described as one who ‘listens’?
8. Do not impose your own set of values on others;
it is the easiest way to lose respect in a
multicultural environment because values usually
are what you grow up with and every individual has
the intrinsic need to defend them.
Module III:
CULTURAL
SENSITIVITY
Topic 4: Working in
multicultural teams
Multicultural Teams
Summary
team.
Multicultural Teams
Tasks

9. Remember that differences of culture or
values should not be reason for
communication gaps.
10. Arguing gets you nowhere but being able
to convince others does.
11. Give people the chance to communicate
their views, share your own, and as with
any discussion, it is important to let the
other person know you are listening and
thinking over their views too.
12. Win friends.
13. Many think it is important to treat others as
they want to be treated.
Module III:
CULTURAL
SENSITIVITY
Topic 4: Working in
multicultural teams
Multicultural Teams
Summary
team.
Multicultural Teams
Tasks

14. Remember how gestures have different
meanings in different cultures, you have to
observe, be interested in other cultures to
know about what is considered positive and
what is negative in another culture.
15. As odd as it may sound, time differences are
not just about the time zones.
16. Find out what motivates the individuals in your
team and you can solve half the problems in
your workplace through intelligent use of that
knowledge.
Module III:
CULTURAL
SENSITIVITY
Topic 4: Working in
multicultural teams
Multicultural Teams
Summary
team.
Multicultural Teams
Tasks

17. You might not get along with your neighbour much
but if the wife is averse to your watching the ball
game this weekend, something bigger than the
difference, the passion for the game, may bring out
your desire to put all differences aside and watch
the game together. That’s just an everyday
example, when teams have something bigger than
the differences they have amongst them, they will
put everything aside to concentrate on their goals.
Inspiration is vital in such situations, if the common
goal clicks, if the team is dedicated to achieving the
goal, they will find the thing common amongst
them, like deadlines and project related troubles,
instead of things that divide.
18. Create a sense of awareness in your workplace
about the diversity of your team and about the
workplace problems such as racism, etc.
Module III:
CULTURAL
SENSITIVITY
Topic 4: Working in
multicultural teams
Multicultural Teams
Summary
team.
Multicultural Teams
Tasks

19. Never think ethnic jokes or insults to be trivial; what
may look like an insignificant little comment to you
can be detrimental to another person’s peace of
mind.
20. Some people do need special attention.
21. Mere words are not enough; you may say a lot
about how you understand different cultures or how
you respect them, but your deeds and your
decision making is your best spokesperson.
22. Periodical work environment reviews can be helpful
in finding out what problems, if any, people are
facing in your office regarding how they are treated
because of their race, religion or culture.
23. Don’t let personality or cultural clashes ruin your
work environment.
Module III:
CULTURAL
SENSITIVITY
Topic 4: Working in
multicultural teams
Multicultural Teams
Summary
team.
Multicultural Teams
Tasks

24. Create an environment among team members so
that they will be open to sharing information about
themselves and to increase their willingness to
hear and accept feedback from others about their
conflict resolution challenges.
25. Help team members understand that conflict is a
result of differences in needs, objectives, and
values. Indicate that these differences can enhance
the team’s productivity, rather than deter it.
26. Help team members understand that they must
understand how each team member perceives
motives, works, actions, and situations differently in
order to understand the differences among them.
Module III:
CULTURAL
SENSITIVITY
Topic 4: Working in
multicultural teams
Multicultural Teams
Summary
team.
Multicultural Teams
Tasks

27. Help team members understand that each of them
has learned to expect certain outcomes in
interpersonal relationships and such differences
can block teamwork.
28. Help team members understand that each of them
has a different style of responding to and working
through conflict within their own cultural group and
with members of other cultural groups.
29. Do not intervene too quickly when conflict occurs
between two or more team members.
30. Intervene when the parties clearly have deficient
awareness and skills to work out the solution or
when the conflict escalates.
31. Use a third party to mediate.
Module III:
CULTURAL
SENSITIVITY
Topic 4: Working in
multicultural teams
Multicultural Teams
Summary
team.
Multicultural Teams
Tasks

32. Sometimes individual team members do not have
the level of commitment to the team or the level of
personal growth needed to work through conflict
within a team setting.
33. Review conflict resolution awareness and skills
periodically, and bring in new knowledge about
resolving conflict when the information becomes
available.
Module III:
CULTURAL
SENSITIVITY
Topic 4: Working in
multicultural teams
Multicultural Teams
Summary
team.
Multicultural Teams
Tasks

Tasks
 Answer the following questions:
1. Have you experienced any difficult situation
working in a multicultural team? What strategies
did you use to deal with it?
2. Would you add any other piece of advice to the
list?
 Read the comments from other learners, and answer
the following questions:
1. What differences are there between your culture
and theirs?
2. Are there any striking similarities?
Module III:
CULTURAL
SENSITIVITY
Topic 4: Working in
multicultural teams
Summary
team.
Multicultural Teams
Tasks

Authorship
Authors:
Mª del Pilar Diaz-López, Patricia Rocamora-Pérez, Remedios
López-Liria, David Padilla-Góngora,
Jose M. Aguilar-Parra
University of Almeria
This learning material was created in the framework of IENE 7 project
“Improving communication, intercultural and social skills
for migrants who work as caregivers of elderly people in Europe.”
Module III:
CULTURAL
SENSITIVITY
Topic 1: Intercultural
Communication
Topic 2: Culturally sensitive
compassion, respect and
acceptance
Topic 3: Client (and family)
involvement
Topic 4: Working in
multicultural teams

Managing Diversity in Multicultural Teams

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