5. Capitalizing on Workforce Diversity As diversity grows in both society and the workplace, interacting and communicating with your coworkers will present specific challenges and rewards. It is important to be sensitive to the diverse backgrounds of your coworkers and to understand how to navigate an increasingly diverse workplace. Which of the following are appropriate strategies for communication in diverse workplaces? Check all that apply. Learn about your cultural self. Focus on cultural differences. Develop healthy bias. Make fewer assumptions. Practice ethnocentrism. Understand the value of difference. Accept stereotypes. Read the following scenarios, and choose the best answer for the following questions. In a recent company meeting on diversity in the workplace, the HR representative starts a discussion on how to be more sensitive toward the diverse backgrounds of the company's employees. After the informative discussion, you want to know from the HR representative's perspective why your company values diversity in its work environment. What would be the best response from the HR representative? Team members with different backgrounds come up with more effective problem-solving techniques, providing your company with a competitive advantage over other companies. The company doesn't want to hear employees gripe about discrimination, so they hire workers with diverse backgrounds. Even though it is more expensive for the company to hire a diverse workforce, the people are worth it. You are a manager at a greeting card company. One afternoon an employee comes to you seeking advice on how to deal with diversity challenges in his workgroup. What is the best piece of advice you can give him? "There is a diversity training session being held in the conference room on Friday that I am requiring you to attend. In the meantime, understand that this is our culture, so if you don't get along with people, you will be fired." "You are right. You work with a really difficult group from so many foreign countries. I don't know how you guys get along. Just hang in there and hope for the best." "There is a diversity training session being held in the conference room on Friday that I would encourage you to attend. In the meantime try to focus on the similarities of your coworkers and stay away from making assumptions. Make sure you are clear on how fit into your workgroup as well