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BUSINESS MENTOR Running a SUCCESSFUL multicultural workplace BY CHRIS ELPHICK ike most Western countries, New Zealand is becoming increasingly multicultural. This makes it a more vibrant and interesting place to live and eat, but it can create challenges in the workplace. Some industry sectors such as hospitality, tourism, primary production, horticulture and viticulture, have relied on migrant workers for a number of years now, and their experiences show that it is possible to successfully employ staff from different ethnic and cultural backgrounds. It���s de���nitely worth putting in the effort to engage people from different backgrounds among your team. They often bring a different perspective to the workplace and they may come up with new and productive ways of doing things. But running a multicultural workplace is not always easy; it can be challenging for management and staff alike, especially if you employ staff whose ���rst language is not English. Communication can be dif���cult in multicultural workplaces, causing confusion and misunderstanding. Different customs, beliefs and ways of thinking may also cause problems. In some cases, a staff member from another culture may feel uncomfortable working for a woman supervisor for example, or for someone who is younger than they are. There may also be issues around religion and dress. The good news is that all of these dif���culties can be overcome. The ���rst and most important thing is to remind yourself that your staff are there to help you run your business as successfully as possible. In order to get the best out of them, it���s in your interests to do as much as possible to create a harmonious multicultural workplace. L something to a non-English speaker but they will eventually get it. COPING WITH DIFFERENT CULTURAL ATTITUDES The other main challenge in multicultural workplaces is dealing with different beliefs and cultural values. While women supervisors are common in the New Zealand workplace for example, that is not always the case in other countries. That means some staff may have dif���culties working for a woman. Different cultures may also be more respectful of age and experience and may to defer to those who are older than them.This can cause problems if the manager is younger than the staff member who is working for them. Religion and its associated dress codes could also be an issue. In the interests of cross-cultural harmony try to respect and accommodate your staff member���s beliefs and values as much as possible. However, there are situations where that is not always be possible, or, in the case of some kinds of clothing, practical. One way of defusing any potential misunderstandings is ENCOURAGING YOUR STAFF TO WORK TOGETHER WILL PAY OFF BY CREATING A MORE PRODUCTIVE WORKFORCE BRIDGING THE COMMUNICATION GAP If you���re employing someone from another country, make an effort ���nd out about that country, its language, culture and customs before they arrive. The internet is as a great resource. You could try to learn a few basic greetings and phrases in your staff member���s ���rst language, it helps put them at ease and is a good way of connecting with each other. Some successful multicultural workplaces go a step further and put up basic signs in the language or languages of their staff members. On a practical level this can help with outlining processes or instructions for how a work task is to be done. You also need to work hard to prevent misunderstandings when you talk to your staff, particularly when you are explaining what you expect of them, what you want them to do, and the procedures you want them to follow. Simply talking loudly or saying the same thing a lot of times won���t make it any easier for them to understand what you mean. You need to be more inventive than that if you want to be understood by someone whose ���rst language is not English. To avoid misunderstandings you should: ��� talk slowly ��� don���t use too many words ��� use gestures and physical demonstrations where possible ��� use simple illustrations if necessary Most importantly, be patient; it may take longer to explain to outline in writing, preferably translated into your staff member���s ���rst language, what you expect them to do and how you expect them to behave. Give them a copy of this to read before they start working for you. That way they know exactly what the rules of your workplace are. BREAKING DOWN THE BARRIERS The workplace is a great place to break down the barriers that can exist between people from different cultures.You can encourage the process by providing opportunities for your staff to get a better understanding of each other. Food is a great way of learning about other cultures. Consider having a shared lunch where everyone brings food from their own country. Or invite staff to give a brief talk about where they come from, and what aspects of their culture are most important to them. Encouraging your staff to work together as a team helps prevents cross-cultural misunderstandings, and it will pay off by creating a more harmonious and hopefully more productive workforce. Chris Elphick is a Wellington-based business mentor, coach and trainer working throughout New Zealand and the Paci���c with a range of business enterprises. For more business tips and information visit: www.chriselphick.co.nz JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2013 ��� NZ AQUACULTURE ��� 7