1. Tool #8: How to be Successful in the Multicultural Workplace Employee Success Toolkit Copyright Harriet Meyerson 2008 www.ConfidenceCenter.com

2. How to be Successful in the Multicultural Workplace © Harriet Meyerson, 2008 www.ConfidenceCenter.com What Does a Multicultural Workplace Mean to You?  Exposure to new:  Foods  Arts  Lifestyles  Adapting to different ways of getting the job done.

3. How to be Successful in the Multicultural Workplace © Harriet Meyerson, 2008 www.ConfidenceCenter.com What are Different Types of Cultures? 1.People from other countries 2.Other races or ethnic groups 3.Different religions 4.Age differences  Generation X, Generation Y, Baby Boomers, etc. 5.Male vs. Female 6.Different backgrounds  Grew up in the country, big city, etc.

4. How to be Successful in the Multicultural Workplace © Harriet Meyerson, 2008 www.ConfidenceCenter.com Keep an Open Mind Everybody benefits from shared knowledge.  People from other cultures may be able to show you a new way to accomplish a task.  You may be able to teach them something new.

5. How to be Successful in the Multicultural Workplace © Harriet Meyerson, 2008 www.ConfidenceCenter.com Increase Your Cultural Awareness  Innovation and progress depend upon new ideas.  A multicultural workplace allows for many different perspectives.

6. How to be Successful in the Multicultural Workplace © Harriet Meyerson, 2008 www.ConfidenceCenter.com Develop Intercultural Communication Skills  Talk to co-workers about each other’s cultures.  Ask about ways to communicate better with them.  Invite someone from a different culture to have dinner at your home.  Ask to be included in your co-workers’ cultural celebrations.

7. How to be Successful in the Multicultural Workplace © Harriet Meyerson, 2008 www.ConfidenceCenter.com Be Sensitive to Diverse Customs  Ask your co-worker what is considered offensive or polite.  A gesture or style of talking may seem polite to someone in one culture, but seem offensive to someone from another culture.  Do some research on the different cultures represented at work.  Credible internet sites  Books  Movies

8. How to be Successful in the Multicultural Workplace © Harriet Meyerson, 2008 www.ConfidenceCenter.com For Example… The American gesture for “bye-bye” means “come here” to some people from Southeast Asia.

9. How to be Successful in the Multicultural Workplace © Harriet Meyerson, 2008 www.ConfidenceCenter.com Celebrate Workplace Diversity  Give a presentation about your culture.  Share stories of childhood experiences.  Show pictures.  Explain customs.  Bring snacks typical of your culture.  Encourage co-workers to give presentations about their cultures.

10. How to be Successful in the Multicultural Workplace © Harriet Meyerson, 2008 www.ConfidenceCenter.com How to be Successful in the Multicultural Workplace Quiz & Discussion Questions

11. How to be Successful in the Multicultural Workplace © Harriet Meyerson, 2008 www.ConfidenceCenter.com Question 1 A multicultural workplace means you may have coworkers who have a different approach to ________________.

12. How to be Successful in the Multicultural Workplace © Harriet Meyerson, 2008 www.ConfidenceCenter.com Question 2 A co-worker from another culture may show you _____ ______ to accomplish a task.

13. How to be Successful in the Multicultural Workplace © Harriet Meyerson, 2008 www.ConfidenceCenter.com Question 3 In order to develop skills to understand diversity, you could: ____________.

14. How to be Successful in the Multicultural Workplace © Harriet Meyerson, 2008 www.ConfidenceCenter.com Question 4 Behaviors vary according to culture. For example, the American gesture of _____ means __________ to some people from Southeast Asia.

15. How to be Successful in the Multicultural Workplace © Harriet Meyerson, 2008 www.ConfidenceCenter.com Question 5 Name 3 ways you can celebrate diversity in the workplace.

16. How to be Successful in the Multicultural Workplace © Harriet Meyerson, 2008 www.ConfidenceCenter.com Set Your Goals What are your three main goals to be successful in the multicultural workplace?