Introduction
The current world composes of diverse individuals of different cultures, gender, ethnic, and racial backgrounds. In a business environment, different individuals of diverse races, ethnic backgrounds, cultures, and gender work together to achieve the common goal of the business. However, many individuals still hold on to stereotypes based on beliefs that place certain categories of people in certain levels.
Categorization of individuals is usually reliant on the status quo of the society and dominant members that are in a given institution. This act of categorization of people leads to a form of discrimination against some members of the society deemed as lesser beings by the dominant members. Remarkably, every individual has unique and special talents that can be of great importance in the development of a given business.
The talents of a person can only materialize if an individual acquires the chance and free will to exercise them without any form of discrimination. It is in this context that the essay aims to discuss the importance of understanding cultural, ethnic, and gendered differences by managers and professionals in a business setting.
Importance of Understanding Cultural, Ethnic, and Gender Differences by Managers and Professionals in a Business Setting
In reference to the experience of the ping-pong ball, which is tied to one hand and held using a tape, it is evident that a certain challenge presents itself. The phenomenon challenges the right-handed members more than the left-handed members. This brought to the fore the fact that, since many people are right-handed, the left-handed individuals have learnt over time to adapt to the dominance of the right-handed world.
This explains the practical nature of societies where certain categories force others to behave in a given manner, which is in line with the stereotype. Therefore, it is important that managers and professionals appreciate the diversity and uniqueness of individuals so that individuals can exercise their maximum potentials.
According to Bell (2011), businesses should avoid using culture, gender, ethnic, and racial backgrounds as benchmarks to judge performance and productivity of individuals in a business. Notably, it is important to understand that irrespective of the gender, ethnic, and racial backgrounds people can deliver and steer the business towards success and achievement of its objectives.
Business settings can benefit greatly from the diversities presented by the human resources present in the world today. These benefits can be in the form of opinions, ideas, different perspectives, and talents. Individuals can fully utilize their talents if managers and professionals give them an opportunity to work in an environment, which is free from all forms of stereotypes.
Currently, the world is rapidly becoming a global village, and thus businesses cannot underscore the diversity presented by mobility of people from one point to another. It is paramount that businesses embrace the concept of diversity in terms of gender, culture, race, and ethnic backgrounds, and employ it for the benefit of the business growth (Bell, 2011). Since diversities present unique combinations, the benefits that accrue from the appreciation of these diversities are very instrumental in the success of business in modern days.
Diverse people from different races, ethnic backgrounds, culture, and gender, bring in a wealth of strengths that include problem-solving skills, different experiences, and a set of expertise. The strengths are very instrumental in the success of a business as they enable businesses to address their challenges and problems with ease.
According to Bell (2011), managers and professionals can tap these strengths if they learn to appreciate the diversity of individuals regardless of their gender and personality. Since the market comprises of people from different cultures, races, gender, and ethnic backgrounds, appreciation of the existing diversities is very vital in achieving success in a business.
In relation to the ping-pong, experience where right-handed members were not able to adapt easily like their left-handed counterparts, managers and professionals must understand that flexibility is a very important virtue in a given business. Thus, diversity is imperative in attaining flexibility among people and achieving success of a business.
Understanding, appreciating, and valuing the uniqueness of people not only increase the motivation, but also increase productivity of individuals. Thus, a business can reduce the costs associated with extensive marketing and promotions, as consumers can market the products basing on the quality of products delivered by the human resources.
Additionally, managers and professionals should extend their spectrum to incorporate aspects like freedom and free opportunity to all persons, so that every member of the business can present the required expertise and skills required for the success of a given business (Bell, 2011).
Benefits such as creativity, flexibility, improved consumer satisfaction, and enhanced problem-solving skills can only have effect if managers and professionals provide equal chances to all the human resources irrespective of their culture, race, gender, and ethnic backgrounds. These benefits are very practical in the achievement of goals and objectives of a business.
Conclusion
In the present world, managers and professionals cannot underscore the need to accommodate different races, cultures, gender, and ethnic backgrounds, because it is from this diversity that they draw their human resources and consumers. Smart managers and professionals must embrace the complexities presented by the diversity and use them to increase productivity and revenues of a given business.
Regarding my experience from the ping-pong ball, which is tied to one active hand, it is very fundamental that business owners and managers should apply flexibility and appreciate the contribution of their human resource regardless of their personalities. Therefore, the importance of understanding cultural, ethnic, and gender differences by managers and professionals in a business setting is very essential for the success of businesses.
Reference
Bell, M. (2011). Diversity in Organizations. New York: Cengage Learning.