A girl speaks into a microphone, addressing a group of girls and boys. On the left-hand side, the video title, "Working with a Diverse Team," appears.
A diverse group, comprising men and women of different ethnicities, sits across a table. A man speaks among them.
No matter which group you are working with, you are likely to encounter people who are different from each other.
A man stands facing the camera with cattle behind him. Scenes shift to a farmer carrying produce on a farm. Another man is shown speaking.
Global markets allow commerce with many countries throughout the world, and people from all over the world come together to work on the same projects.
Smiling men and women enjoy a meal together. This transitions to another set of smiling people from diverse backgrounds having fun.
These factors mean that we are likely to be exposed to people of different languages, backgrounds, and cultures.
An older boss addresses a younger team in a conference room. A text box at the bottom of the screen indicates, "Increase your awareness of potential diversity among the team members or group you lead." Various scenes follow: a woman speaking, two men in conversation, scientists discussing in a laboratory, and a diverse group interacting.
To become an effective leader, you will need to increase your awareness of potential diversity among the team members or group you lead. You should strive to learn about the differences in your group and don’t be afraid to ask questions. So what is diversity? It’s basically all the differences among a group of people.
On the left side, the image shows a man at a desk working while three women work on their systems. On the right side, A slide titled "Examples of Diversity" lists various aspects read by the narrator.
Here are some examples of diversity you may have heard of: age, gender, marital status, education, occupation and income, race and ethnicity, religious beliefs, geographic location or culture, language, and disabilities.
Four scientists converse in a laboratory. Scenes shift to a man waiting at a clinic, a woman pushing a wheelchair, and another woman speaking to the camera.
We tend to have a natural affinity to others who share the same diversity traits. What comes to mind when someone is introduced as a doctor?
DOCTOR: I’m Dr. Sprys, it’s really nice to meet you, are you Ben?
NARRATOR: When you meet someone in a wheelchair?
DOCTOR: How are you?
WOMAN IN WHEELCHAIR: Fine.
NARRATOR: Or when you listen to a person with a foreign accent?
WOMAN WITH ACCENT: Liberia is a country that is a patriarchal state.
Sunlight fills a glass-windowed conference room. The text mentions, "Step outside your comfort zone and increase your awareness of diversity in the team. "This transitions to a diverse group of young men and women.
NARRATOR: To be an effective leader, you need to be okay with stepping outside your own comfort zone and increasing your awareness of diversity in the team. You should recognize the similarities as well as the differences and respect the benefits diversity can bring to activities.
The slide "Recognize Similarities" mentions health, self-esteem, safety, and education. The image shows a young and older man engaging in conversation.
Start by recognizing similarities like health, self-esteem, safety, or education.
People from diverse cultural and racial backgrounds speak in a meeting.
Think about your own potential biases. Have you ever stereotyped someone? Has someone ever stereotyped you? Be aware that each culture may prioritize values differently. Respect everyone and practice patience while trying to understand the team members.
A scientist listens intently in a laboratory. This transitions to a black woman entering the office of a white man, shaking hands.
Encourage others to do the same. You will expand your comfort zone with a wide variety of people by learning more about different cultures.
The right side of the screen shows a young black woman and a young white man, and on the left side, "Learn more about different cultures " bullets the items the narrator reads.
You can do this by conducting a factual search, attending a cultural event or holiday, talking with people from different backgrounds and asking them questions.
It transitions to two young women looking at a computer screen. A text box at the bottom of the screen indicates, "Explore your own family background for cultural aspects."
It’s also a good idea to explore your own family background for cultural aspects.
Scientists continue discussions in the laboratory. Scenes depict diverse groups in various settings such as workplaces and classrooms.
As a team leader you can also create processes to make diverse members welcome and a part of the team. Mentor people with different backgrounds and share what you learn from them with other team members. Seek out ways to diversify the group. Incorporate new and innovative ideas from someone with a different viewpoint. Find new ways to be an inclusive leader and communicate with team members about their differences.
Someone writes in a notepad, transitioning to a meeting of diverse individuals, with a different person speaking. A woman is shown noting something in her notepad.
Think of ways you can bring a better understanding of these differences to all team members. Dealing with diversity will take some time, and you may change your own attitudes after learning more. Develop your own personal plan for continued diversity learning, and you will find yourself becoming a more effective leader!
Two people from different backgrounds warmly shake hands.