The workplace of the 21st century has a different look and feel than it did in the 1950s. We are no longer living in an Ozzie and Harriet world in which only the men went to work and the women stayed at home. For the last 30 years, women have played a larger role in the workforce. In addition, ethnic diversity is in evidence almost everywhere, and it is becoming clear that no one ethnic group dominates the 21st-century workplace. This has led to a fair and more equal situation and has required a new approach to doing business and addressing customers.
The increasing awareness of diversity has caused many people to question the way they interact with others and the assumptions they make and everyday communication. This new approach is relevant to the relationship between management and employees and the way products are marketed to customers. In short, cultural diversity is a relevant issue in every aspect of most businesses today, and positive strategies to increase diversity and to enhance cultural and gender sensitivity and awareness can help improve morale in the workplace and make marketing more effective.
Diversity and the Workplace Environment
Once there is a new hire, there is a period of training and onboarding the new employee has to go through to learn the ropes and get a sense of the workplace atmosphere. It is during the crucial first days and weeks of the onboarding process that the new hire develops an awareness of workplace dynamics. Cultural sensitivity is a vital part of the onboarding process and can enhance a sense of teamwork among employees.
Even after the initial onboarding process, the connections between employees can often be established through resource groups and mentoring. Participation in resource groups which can focus on specific categories such as women or subcategories such as new moms can help employees feel more engaged and involved in workplace environments. Mentors can allow employees to discuss how they feel about the topic of diversity and how it is implemented. Studies have shown that these resource and mentoring groups can make employees feel more engaged, and therefore can improve morale the workplace.
Unfortunately, many new startups, particularly those in the competitive and intense tech sector, have said that they do not have time to focus on the concept of diversity in the workplace. Experts on diversity and employment such as Luke Visconti have pointed out how vital this issue is to creating teamwork in a company. The tech sector, in particular, shows relatively little diversity, with very few women in leadership positions. A number of articles pointing out the lack of diversity in these companies can reflect negatively and can encourage customers to shop elsewhere.
Diversity and Customer Engagements
A lack of cultural sensitivity in the workplace can translate into a situation of companies being of touch with consumers. Even if the staff of a particular company tends to be comprised mainly of white males, there is little doubt that a customer may not fit this demographic. Marketing strategies that are designed with certain assumptions in mind may tend to fall flat. Consumers want to feel that a company is in tune with their needs. When human resource departments make diversity a priority, this can translate into marketing that appeals to a wide audience and that attracts a broad range of customers.
Blogs and articles that focus on diversity can attract readers from a variety of backgrounds and can improve user engagement on websites. This content can also inspire likes and shares on social media which can also extend the reach of a particular brand for specific products. Incorporating concepts of diversity in aspects of running a business from hiring employees to creating an optimal workplace environment to marketing and website content can increase a company’s appeal across a broad spectrum of consumers.
This is the reason why all companies should invest time and energy into focusing on the topic of cultural diversity and developing strategies on how to improve employee and consumer engagement. An important first step can be making sure content on a website, including blogs, and reflect the topic of diversity directly or indirectly and can help expand the appeal of the brand.
Diversity as a Priority
Cultural assumptions have often had a role to play in marketing products in the workplace. Looking at advertisements from 30 years ago, it is clear that the environment in the home and the workplace has changed. Creating products that appeal to an increasingly diverse customer base begins in the workplace with cultural sensitivity and optimum employee engagement.
Successful onboarding, mentoring, and resource groups are tools that can help improve employee engagement and implement strategies that encourage diversity. Creating website content that addresses the needs of a wide variety of customers from different cultural backgrounds can help enhance brand loyalty and generate interest in new products. The world has changed dramatically, and companies should reflect new developments in the workplace and societies.