Practicing Multicultural Leadership

Seven tips

Not only is the world getting flatter, it is becoming more colorful. As globalization becomes a reality, more and more companies will employ people of every race, nationality, religious background and age group. These people will work side-by-side in the same office building, others a hemisphere away. It would be great if you could magically fill your leadership ranks with men and women from different cultures, backgrounds and traditions. But if that's unrealistic, Juana Bordas says you can gain a lot by simply borrowing their techniques.

“Today's leadership models, although they may differ from person to person and method to method, generally have a common bias toward Western- or European-influenced ways of thinking,” says Bordas, author of the new book Salsa, Soul, and Spirit: Leadership for a Multicultural Age. ”We're leading as if our companies are filled with white men and, quite clearly, that's no longer the case. Contemporary leadership theories exclude the enormous contributions, potential learning, and valuable insights that come from leaders in diverse communities.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, by 2010 one-third of U.S. residents will trace their descents to Africa, Asia, the Hispanic world, the Pacific Islands or the Middle East. In her book, Bordas explains that the most successful businesses will be those that incorporate the influences, practices and values of these diverse cultures in a respectful and productive manner. “Through implementing multicultural leadership, not only will your company's working environment be a better, more enjoyable place to work, but you will be able to better handle the needs of your multicultural customers.

“Multicultural leadership encourages an inclusive and adaptable style that cultivates the ability to bring out the best in our diverse workforce and to fashion a sense of community with people from many parts of the globe,” says Bordas. “It enables a wide spectrum of people to actively engage, contribute, and tap their potential. That's why making sure that your workplace has culturally inclusive leadership will be one of the most important transitions you make into the new globalized world.”

In her book, Bordas provides the following seven ways to help in the transition to multicultural leadership:

1. First, you need a history lesson—expanding the leadership at your organization into a multicultural form requires an understanding of how Eurocentric and hierarchical leadership became dominant in the first place.
2. Think “we,” not “I”—Bringing in multicultural leadership will create a working environment where the focus is on mutual, not singular advancement.
3. Practice generosity, not greed—Multicultural leaders are not greedy. They want the best for their employees. As a result, their employees are generous with their time and concern for customers.
4. Flatten your leadership structure—Traditional leadership today, particularly in corporate America, is associated with fat salaries and mega bonuses, the big office, corporate jets, special parking places and the numerous privileges that come with being in the top echelon. These types of perks create elitism that runs contrary to the principle of equality in the workplace, resulting in economic and social chasms between leaders and employees. 
5. Help people learn to work better together—No two people come from exactly the same background. Despite outward similarities, every employee, manager or CEO is unique. Successful businesses are those that learn to accept the small differences that make us human and work together for the greater good of the organization.
6. Minimize conflict by reminding employees that they truly are “family”—Any number of conflicts can arise in an office setting, and by using the right leadership techniques, you can alleviate conflict so that everyone works together (for the most part, at least!) as one big, happy family.
7. Focus employees on a company vision—Create a company motto or vision that not only represents the beliefs of the company, but it’s employees, too. 

Reprinted with permission. © CCH

As globalization becomes a reality, more and more companies will employ people of every race, nationality, religious background and age group.