Today, due to globalization and the dynamic nature of societies around the world, a diverse and inclusive workforce is the norm for many businesses, both large and small. A diverse and all-inclusive workforce is today a driving force in creation as well as the execution of services, new products, and business processes.
Though diverse teams are rich in creative potential, they frequently tend to encounter difficulties in joining together and work towards a common direction and align to set actions.
Do you have a Team Effectiveness Model that you use to avoid such challenges?
The diversity of a team is often accepted as a crucial goal when building project groups. And simply put diversity means difference. So this makes it one among the many arrays of employment solutions which promote progress in a company. In addition, diversity when well managed can be among the strongest factors that favor success in any business.
To help you find a solution, the Global Team Effectiveness Model ® describes seven elements that have proven to be a key factor when working with multicultural teams.
Let’s examine the seven elements that have proven to be crucial in helping global teams reach their highest levels of performance and achieve their set goals:
- Cultural Diversity
- Team Foundations
- Conflict Resolution
- Team Process
- Team Performance
- Virtual Communication
- Team Meetings
During the next 7 weeks, we will be observing each element in detail. The key here to success is to be mindful and modify your leadership style accordingly.
My recommendation is that you enhance your understanding about cultural differences. Especially, since without the required organizational framework, support, and intercultural training, multicultural teams might have a hard time becoming innovative, productive and cohesive units.
Just like any other team, multicultural teams need:
- Time and room to allow for the members to get to know each other, built trust and even experiment. So, to consent for the diversity of thoughts, it is crucial for multicultural teams in any organization to strike a balance between the development of original ideas and the use of trustworthy (cultural) practices.
- Commitment to the process and the team members’ willingness to work beyond their comfort zones will go a long way. And in so doing, a global team will offer each member the chance to share their personal and professional expertise. Thus be acknowledged and valued for what they bring to the table.
To support diversity, an organization should be fully committed to the process required to build multicultural teams and be ready to invest the essential resources for promoting workforce growth, innovation, and creativity.
In the end, both parties will highly benefit from multicultural teams. In that, companies get to improve their ROI (return on investment), while employees have the opportunity to share their unique know-how as well as cultural backgrounds strengths. Thus, they get to grow and expand their horizons.
By working on diverse teams, you will be setting the foundation of success. Also, it is considered as the cornerstone of any organization. If you and your team are ready to determine the effectiveness of the team and gather feedback to improve their performance we can help you! Learn more about our solutions for global teams.
Keep in mind no one can achieve something meaningful by itself. Likewise, thanks to globalization, a multicultural team can be a rewarding experience in terms of growth. More so when you consider how the different backgrounds in a team, bring in their strengths and different perspectives for a common goal.
Question: How can you improve effectiveness in a multicultural team?