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Managing in a Multicultural Environment

Effectively managing a multicultural belief that our success or lack of it
business requires at least a basic depends solely on the choices we make and
knowledge of your employee's culture and the hard work we put into it.
traditions. Familiarity with both is Nationalism: Nationalism is deeply
essential because each has a bearing on ingrained in Hispanics. This is a fact
an employee's every day behavior. that most Americans don't realize fully.
Our cultural identity helps us feel like When we see a person speaking Spanish,
we are "part" of the society around us. many automatically assume that the person
It keeps us from feeling isolated and is Mexican. Often that just isn't true.
sometimes it even helps us know how to Spanish is spoken over a wide geographic
react. For example, as Americans, we know area that includes many very different
it's appropriate to stand and place our countries.
hands over our hearts when we hear "The All of us are deeply proud of our roots.
Star Spangled Banner" because it's part Latin Americans have deep attachments to
of our culture. their homelands and the unique culture
Traditions involving family, religion, that comes with that. Because you speak
education, and nationalism play a large English, would you like to be mistaken
role in anyone's life. Personal for a Canadian instead of an American?
appearance, ethics, and etiquette are Probably not!
also factors to be considered. It's savvy management for employers to
Whether we realize it or not, culture and know which countries their employees come
tradition are powerful principles we from. Getting to know individual
always carry with us. It's almost like employees is a basic feature in
carrying a cell phone. We take it for successful Latin American management
granted that our phone is in out pocket, strategies. The boss becomes personally
but we don't think about it until it acquainted with each employee and knows a
rings. Culture is like that. It's always bit about his family. This is called
with us even though we are unaware of it. "personalizmo" and it's very important to
What rings your cultural bell? workplace attitudes.
Even tough it's hard to make broad When "el jefe" or "el supervisor"
generalizations about culture, many recognizes an individual employee, he
studies have been conducted over the feels more respected and valued. That
years on its importance to Hispanics. increases his loyalty to the company and
There are certain basic principles about to its leadership.
Latino culture and tradition that make Etiquette: Basic etiquette and social
good survival skills for all American skills are valued by Latin Americans.
employers. Good manners are a sign of solid
Family: Nuclear families are the upbringing. Training begins at the home
foundation of Hispanic society. An and continues in school. Great emphasis
intense love of family is a strong is attached to shaking hands and greeting
feature in Latinos employees. the staff each morning in the workplace.
To most, the family and its needs are Not only is this sort of etiquette valued
even more important than work. Work is in face to face interactions, it's also a
often seen as a "necessary evil" done for part of good telephone communication. In
the purpose of earning enough money to a Latin American's eyes it's rude to "cut
satisfy the needs of the family. to the chase" on the telephone and
As managers, we must also take into immediately begin to discuss business
consideration the fact that many Hispanic without first asking how the person is
employees have left close members of that you are talking to. Next, to be
their families in Latin America. This is truly polite you should ask how the
true for both first and second generation family is doing.
Hispanic employees. Etiquette is so important on the job many
Personal sacrifice in Hispanic families think "por favor" and "gracias" are the
is the rule, not the exception. The two most important phrases in the Spanish
estrangement and isolation that comes language. These are definitely words that
with being separated from parents, wives will help you get the job done.
and children can be devastating. This Strategies for Success: There's no doubt
causes severe depression, isolation and that America's Hispanic workforce is
even substance abuse. Each of these going to become even more important to
becomes high risk factors for on the job our country's economic growth and
accidents. success. Now that you understand some of
Children: Children in Latino families are the basic attitudes your Hispanic
cherished, protected and loved. A typical workforce has, it's time to plot a course
weekend is spent enjoying time together, for your success in a multicultural
preparing meals, visiting friends, or environment.
extended family. Children are more 1. Work aggressively to overcome the
heavily influenced by their parents and language barrier. Obviously, this means
extended family members rather than by learning to speak some Spanish. You don't
those outside the family. have to be fluent to be successful.
Religion: Religion and spirituality are 2. Make every effort to learn about the
also deeply rooted in Latin American culture of your employees. This will help
culture. Almost 90% Latin Americans are you build trusting relationships that
Roman Catholic and most observe basic Latinos value.
religious traditions, even though they 3. Develop an open culture in your
might not attend church on a regular workplace that accepts and appreciates
basis. the differences individual employees
Throughout Latin America religious bring to your organization.
practices play a more visible role in the 4. Establish employment policies
workplace than they do in the US. Many carefully and communicate them so all
Hispanic managers feel these practices employees understand your expectations
make a valuable contribution to overall for appropriate conduct on the job.
worker morale. 5. Acknowledge your employee's strong
An unusual feature of Latin American family ties and desire to return home
spirituality is an indefinable fatalism periodically. Make every effort to
or fatalismo which is pervasive in the develop staffing that is flexible enough
culture. Many Latinos have the underlying to allow employees to return home for a
sense that their lives are controlled by period of time to visit their families
fate; consequently, whatever success or and then return to the job.
tragedy befalls them is no result of Learning these simple, common-sense
their own actions. Whatever is supposed practices and principles will give you a
to happen, will happen. positive edge in managing your
This is almost opposite of the American multicultural work place.




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