Joanne Fisher reflects on the benefits of cultural diversity for business.
It’s well known that diverse teams consistently outperform homogenous teams when it comes to organisational outcomes. A Harvard study found that businesses run by culturally diverse leadership teams were more likely to develop new products than those with homogenous leadership. McKinsey identified a in research over the past five years, which highlighted the growing likelihood that diverse companies will out-earn their industry peers.
Having spent a good proportion of my working life in international SMEs, collaborating with colleagues and clients from a broad range of cultures, these statistics do not surprise me. We already know that to perform, especially in today’s VUCA world of work, organisations must bring a variety of strengths to the table within their leadership teams: inspiration, learning agility, clarity, critical thinking, intellectual and emotional intelligence, and adaptive leadership.
But what are the other benefits of optimising your workplace by embracing diversity in your teams?
I’ve put together a list of the top things I learnt from experience, unpacking why cultural diversity in the workplace is essential to success.
Cultural diversity in the workplace expands your mind
Our world — and what we achieve — is only as big as our frame of reference and the people we surround ourselves with. Spending time with different people, from different cultural backgrounds, with different stories and experiences, opens our lives to new ways of thinking, new models, and new ideas.
Cultural diversity in the workplace increases innovation
Collaborating on projects that require creativity can be lots of fun. When team members contribute to a discovery process, drawing on their diverse lived experiences, a rich landscape is created for innovation.
I remember in Germany using the phrase ‘sheep dip training’ in a proposal for a project we won. The project was sponsored by the European Union and delivered in Russia by a team of multi-national experts. Though just a throwaway idea for me, the phrase was embraced and became something that resonated across all cultures — prompting some common amusement.
Cultural diversity in the workplace stimulates progress
Differences of opinion and constructive criticism can be very positive in strides towards progress, provided the team is clear on the shared vision and purpose they are working towards. Challenging our own views can broaden our understanding, increase our power of positive influence, and encourage personal growth.
Cultural diversity in the workplace highlights strength
Tension within diverse teams can uncover our weaknesses, particularly in relation to self-awareness and self-confidence. But it can also uncover strengths we never would have known we had. Diverse dynamics and conversations with people who approach projects differently can bring new skills and abilities to the fore.
Cultural diversity in the workplace sharpens your senses
Ask, listen and observe — then ask again if you need to. I strongly believe that as you learn to notice the things that happen below the surface, your senses are primed and so is your awareness. Those that thrive develop their emotional intelligence, learning to notice the impact of the things they say and do on others, as well as the impact of others on them. I learnt never to make assumptions, before approaching a situation with a beginner’s mind.
Cultural diversity in the workplace encourages collaboration
There’s critical value in clear communication, resourcefulness and resilience in a team environment. When joining a new team with different rules of engagement, it’s important to dig deep into our own skillsets, and put in effort to ensure that we are expressing clear messages, staying on purpose, and continually looking for the best ways to connect and collaborate.
Cultural diversity in the workplace prompts growth
Some of the behaviours that have served us well in our own culture or in previous teams, can lead to unintended consequences if used without considering context or culture. Habitual strengths or ways of doing things may be experienced and interpreted differently by colleagues, and vice versa.
For example, in Germany I learnt it was not good enough to just bring a problem or request to the table; I needed to make a well-grounded case and propose possible options to be discussed, and not take offence when others openly dissected my proposal to achieve the best result. What I saw as people being unreceptive to my ideas, the team saw as not accepting things at face value.
Cultural diversity in the workplace offers new perspective
Cultural diversity provides space to explore different perspectives and overcome unhelpful and untrue preconceptions that stand in the way of great outcomes. There is always an opportunity to learn from others.
It takes hard work to bridge differences. By challenging our own beliefs and assumptions within a truly diverse team we can tap into an assortment of strengths, learn from each other, and outperform homogenous groups. One size does not fit all. There is never just one way of doing things, so learning through different experiences opens our eyes and minds to possibility.
Cultural diversity in the workplace should never be tokenistic or taken lightly.
If you’d like to learn more about how to create the conditions for culturally diverse teams to do great work together,
