Managing diverse teams is an important part of any successful business. For a company to maximize its competitiveness, all team members must work toward a common goal and believe that their ideas and knowledge are valued.

Problems with diversity in teams may result in unresolved conflict and a variety of other problems.

1. Diversity in team building requires active management to keep in-group and out-group dynamics from forming.

2. Diversity team building prevents inter-group competition. Competition within a team creates distrust and reduces productivity.

3. If some team members feel excluded because of race, religion, gender or age, they may seek other jobs, which can lead to retention problems.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Improve internal communications to manage team diversity

It is important for all team members to feel comfortable contributing ideas and opinions. A strong internal communication policy encourages employees to share ideas and information.

I recommend: Take the time to polish your own communication skills. Confident that communication is not a problem within your diversity teams? Consider taking a communication audit.

Establish a formal diversity policy to improve diversity in teams

The diversity policy can be a simple statement that lists clear objectives as well as a training plan for managing team diversity. Include the policy in the employee handbook and update it regularly.

I recommend: New Intelligence Inc. offers a software program that develops and implements new workplace diversity policies. If you choose to develop a workplace team diversity policy on your own, Tanenbaum offers a detailed checklist of considerations, particularly regarding religious diversity.

Improve team diversity management by bringing in outside help

For many small to medium sized companies, diversity management is time consuming and confusing. Hiring an outside consultant to train your employees on diversity issues is often more effective than attempting it yourself. Whether you conduct the training yourself, or hire an outside consultant, consider diversity training an ongoing process.

I recommend: Novations and Impactful Training both offer a wide range of team diversity solutions. If you don't have the resources for an outside consultant, utilize professionally prepared training materials.

Look into diversity team building resources

Team building is good for any business, and more so if your company is committed to a clear diversity policy.

I recommend: National Center for Cultural Healing offers team building customized for teams that include workers of multicultural backgrounds. Improve the relationships in your diverse teams. PRISM International offers multicultural team building programs for workplace team diversity.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Diversity in team building requires you to look past the person when assembling a team. Detail the qualifications you are looking for in a team and put together the best people for the job.
• •  Consider how your corporate culture affects others. Breakfast meetings may be routine, but a working mother may have trouble with the time. This is just one example of how a painless change can improve diversity team building.
• •  Feelings on diversity affect not only how a person feels about others, but, just as importantly, how they see themselves.