The challenges:
- Promoting open and respectful communication among people of different genders, races, backgrounds and experience.
- Building awareness that communication is a skill set that can be learned and developed.
- Creating a learning environment that encourages workers to improve communication in the workplace.
The solutions:
- Recognize that effective communication is a tool to encourage cooperation and collaboration among workers of all backgrounds.
- Recognize that effective communication in a diverse workplace must be "inclusive."
- Provide training to all workers to develop competency in "inclusive" communication.
The qualities of an "inclusive" communicator: The right Mind Set, Heart Set and Skill Set
The Right Mind set:
- understanding that each of us has a perspective based on our gender, race, culture, background, experience and so on
- being knowledgeable about the key differences of gender, race, culture, background and experience of others
The Right Heart set:
- having the desire to be an effective communicator with others who are different
- being open, curious and non-judgemental of different values, attitudes and behaviours
The Right Skill set:
- having awareness of the differences that gender, race, culture, background and experience can bring to a situation
- managing your own response and adapting your communication style for mutual benefit
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OUR NEXT INSTALLMENT: Inclusive communication starts with "listening to understand"
Previous installment: What it means to treat people as professionals.
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Resources:
- BuildForce Canada. "Communication, Negotiation, Conflict Resolution." Construction E-Learning Centre. Available at elearning.buildforce.ca.
- English, Shannon M. and Sarah Lynn. Business Across Cultures. 1995. Longman, New York, U.S.A.
- Shannon Stucky. "Chris Hadfield: An Astronaut's Guide to Communications." Well Said Communications Inc., March 7, 2014. Retrieved from: www.wellsaidcommunications.ca/chris-hadfield-communications
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- JOIN THE CONVERSATION -
How does your own communication style affect your relationships with co-workers?
This project has been funded by Status of Women Canada.