Workforce Language Services

In a recent Chicago Tribune article, attempts to bridge racial division in order to address issues important to all races were discussed:

“Race wasn’t the way to start the conversation,” Winston said. “But what worked was bringing people of different races together to talk about shared concerns and shared values, with the idea of getting people to understand that the racial divide was not nearly as deep as it seemed.”

This statement can and should be applied to not only urban violence (as it was in this article), but also to workplace safety and workplace diversity.  Recent Workforce Language Services blog posts have focused on news about workplace safety and racial issues in the construction industry.  But getting together to talk about shared concerns and values as a way to promote workplace diversity is also a valid starting point in the corporate world.  The shared values will have more to do with the company’s bottom line rather than community safety as was discussed in the Chicago Tribune article, but the lessons can also be applied.

Cultural competency in the corporate world can definitely begin with a discussion of shared values so that employees understand that their goals more often overlap than not.  As people realize that they share similar goals, perhaps companies can appreciate and celebrate the different skills and perspectives of their employers as equally valid ways of moving toward corporate goals.