We enjoyed another amazing webinar yesterday in the Greater Memphis Chamber's Equity and Diversity Series. David Dart, Global HR Leader and Chief Human Resources Officer with ServiceMaster and Johnel Angel Evans, Vice President, Inclusion Diversity & Engagement with Becton Dickinson and Company did an outstanding job of discussing Hiring Practices and Processes that Promote Diversity. If you missed it, catch the replay on their YouTube channel. We were inspired to write a companion piece discussing other ways small businesses can break through cultural barriers.
Most workplaces are culturally diverse, both inside and out. Your small business is likely the same. You're going to work with and serve a lot of people from all walks of life. If you can't break through cultural barriers, you'll have a lot of problems getting work done. Here are a few things you can do to help things along.
- Appreciate the Differences
Different cultures mean different perspectives and experiences. That's incredibly valuable in a small business setting. Someone with a different viewpoint can offer insight into a situation and provide unique solutions. The problem is some people have trouble understanding the power of diversity. Most of the time, it's not because they think less of others. More often than not, it's because they've never been exposed to another culture.
Help employees along by celebrating the cultural differences in your company. Even something as simple as a culturally-themed lunch or dinner can start things off. Newsletters written by employees can also help. Not only does it help you celebrate diversity, it can also serve as a team building event.
- Make Accommodations
Different cultures and religions have different practices and requirements. Some cannot eat pork; others have different holidays. Make accommodations in every possible way. Even something as simple as letting people pray at certain times or offering culturally-appropriate food options at the cafeteria can make employees feel more at home. Additionally, not having to worry about whether or not they'll get the right meal lets them focus on work.
- Learn Important Words and Phrases
Clear communication is a vital part of working in a team, and it's part of making negotiations work. Unfortunately, unless you miraculous have a wealth of free time or incredible learning capacity you're not going to learn all the languages you'll encounter. Fortunately, you don't have to.
A few key phrases can do the trick. Greetings and farewells are among them and work for customers and employees alike. For employees, you can learn phrases that indicate that they did a good job. Keep things positive at all times and consider having all your employees learn those phrases so they can use them when interacting with customers.
- Study Various Cultures
Comfort is at the heart of any successful client-company interaction. Your clients are dealing with your small business, and while you had enough presence to attract them, that doesn't mean they're not without concerns. Making them as comfortable as possible is one of your primary concerns.
Learning about their culture can keep you from making any social faux pas and keep them comfortable and focused on negotiations or on your offering. While many may let your mistakes pass, every time you make a mistake it can serve as a distraction from your service and small business.
- Embrace New Things
Most people just want you to make an effort. Whether you're meeting someone at a restaurant of their choosing or closing a deal overseas, you should make the effort to try something new. Even something as innocuous as trying a new dish can make you appear more willing to understand their way of thinking. This is great for customers and employees alike. Employees will feel more at home working for you, and clients will see that you're open to things that matter to them.
It doesn't matter what industry your small business is in; keeping an open mind and breaking through cultural barriers is important. Not only is it the right thing to do, but it's necessary for employee morale as well as good for your bottom line!