Navigating the Diverse Tribal Workplace

Navigating the Diverse Tribal Workplace

What are Some of the Areas in which We are Diverse?

Closest Friends Exercise 3

What do you think? Will a man who grew up in a poor, white, Methodist family have very similar experiences to a woman who was raised in a wealthy, Catholic, Latino family? Who will have more in common: a Ute woman and a Ute man, or a Ute woman and a Navajo woman? 4

Why Do You Think People Tend to Have So Many Demographic Characteristics in Common with Their Closest Friends? 5

Some Answers Include: People are drawn to those like themselves Characteristics like race, gender, age, education, etc. shape our experiences of the world We tend to identify with people who s experiences have led them to have common interests and values You re more likely to be friends with someone you live close to, and more likely to share values with those in your community than outside it 6

Disadvantages of a Diverse Workplace Increased potential for conflict Important for team members to receive diversity training (like this class!) and conflict management training Note that there is positive and negative conflict positive conflict can actually be an advantage! 7

What is Culture?

What is Culture? Way of life of a given society Learned Transmitted from generation to generation 9

Culture is a complex subject, but it is sometimes broadly defined as the way we do things around here. 10

What Words Can you Think of that Illustrate Evidence of Culture? 11

Traits Low-Context Cultures (Low=Lots of more explicit language more direct in their meanings rely less on nonverbal systems stress goals and outcomes more than relationships manage conflict more directly more confrontational. Talking) Examples German; Swedish; American; and English Cultures 12

High-Context Cultures Traits Value self-restraint Avoid confrontation Rely heavily on nonverbal systems Give a great deal of meaning to the relationships between communicators. Honor is important Manage conflict more indirectly Examples Native American; Asian; and Latin-American 13

Which is typical of a High-Context Culture and Which is typical of a Low-Context Communicating a great deal through non-verbal gestures. (Careful observation is necessary to avoid misinterpretation of non-verbal behavior.) Culture? Using lots of words to communicate exactly what one wants the other person to know. 14

Which is typical of a High-Context Culture and Which is typical of a Low-Context Culture? Looking someone straight in the eye to show respect Looking down to show respect or deference 15

Which is typical of a High-Context Culture and Which is typical of a Low-Context Culture? Ignoring an individual to show disagreement or displeasure. Verbally confronting someone to show disagreement or displeasure. 16

Which is typical of a High-Context Culture and Which is typical of a Low-Context Culture? A gentle handshake is often seen as: A gentle handshake is often seen as: A sign of respect Weakness 17

Which is typical of a High-Context Culture and Which is typical of a Low-Context Culture? Truths or difficult messages are conveyed through humor, and laughter is a good way to cope with pain. It s best to come out and say what you mean, and the best way to deal with pain is to talk about it to let people know what you re feeling. 18

Which is typical of a High-Context Culture and Which is typical of a Low-Context Culture? If someone does something wrong you need to call them out and notify the proper authority. You shouldn t criticize others directly. People who have acted wrongly will pay for their acts in one way or another, although the method may not be through the legal system. 19

Which is typical of a High-Context Culture and Which is typical of a Low-Context Culture? If you want to get a point across, come out and say it Storytelling is a good way of communicating a point 20

Which is typical of a High-Context Culture and Which is typical of a Low-Context Culture? Pointing with your lips, eyebrows, or chin Pointing with your finger 21

Self-Assessment: Where do You Fall on the High-Context Low-Context Culture Spectrum? 22

What are Values? A culture's values are its ideas about what is good, right, fair, and just. There are shared values within a culture There are also values that differ between groups within a culture Values influence norms--the agreed-upon expectations and rules by which a culture guides the behavior of its members in any given situation 23

Values, Norms, and Ethnocentrism

What are Values? A culture's values are its ideas about what is good, right, fair, and just. There are shared values within a culture. There are also values that differ between groups within a culture. 25

Mainstream American Values wealth, success, power, prestige, accomplishment, material success, problem-solving, reliance on science and technology, democracy, patriotism, charity, freedom, equality and justice, individualism, responsibility, and accountability. 26

Traditional Native American Values Vary widely, but values common to many Native cultures include: Patience, seeing and listening, nonmaterialism, cooperation/mutualism, allowing things to happen when they re ready to, living in the present, harmony, duty to family, respect for elders, spirituality 27

Norms Different values lead to different group norms. Norms are the agreed-upon expectations and rules by which a culture guides the behavior of its members in any given situation. Norms vary widely across cultural groups. 28

Question: Why is the below true? Generally, in rural America it is considered rude not to greet a stranger as you pass by them on the street Generally in urban America, it is considered odd (and often unwelcomed) if you greet a stranger as you pass by them on the street 29

Case Studies: Problem Workers

Case Studies Which of the following do you think may be relevant factors in the dynamics of these cases? Gender Personality style Communication style Cultural background Age Family background Other factors? 31

Ethnocentrism The belief of superiority in one's personal ethnic group Can be conscious or unconscious Can be subtle or blatant Very hard to self-diagnose one s own ethnocentric beliefs! When you grow up in any given cultural values and norms, they will seem like the natural or best way. 32

Case Study: Danish Parents in New York

Ground Rules for Interacting with Others in a Culturally Diverse Workplace Show respect for differences Try to put yourself in the others shoes Don t jump to conclusions about people s motives Treat people as individuals while respecting cultural differences Others? 34

Age Diversity

Personal Reflection What are some positive and negative stereotypes the culture you grew up in has for younger people? What are some positive and negative stereotypes the culture you grew up in has for older people? How do you think our stereotypes about people of different ages affect our working relationships? 36

Ground Rules Make an effort to observe and follow the etiquette at your workplace Be respectful towards people of all ages If you know you are highly respected based on your age, be conscientious that you don t take advantage of that respect Recognize that having people of different ages in an organization brings strength through a diversity of perspectives, but don t assume that a person will act or feel a certain way because of their age Others? 37