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Diversity is desirable in any team. The more opinions, approaches and members of different demographics represented in a team, the more flexible it is and better prepared to face the various challenges that may lie ahead. Here are five tips for leading a diverse team made up of people with different kinds of personalities.
These tips were published by Management Today.
In order for employees to feel comfortable in a team and be able to use their individual talents to the full, the environment in which they work needs to be as inclusive as possible. Managers should create such an environment where everyone feels comfortable about sharing their views and ideas, and feedback is welcomed.
Team members bring unique perspectives and experiences. As a manager, you need to be aware of these differences, value them and reflect them in how you lead your team and approach individual employees.
You need to reflect differences in priorities, attitudes and skills in the learning and development of subordinates. In a team made up of very diverse types of people with different needs, one-size-fits-all training that is the same for everyone cannot succeed as it does not reflect the individual needs of the team members.
This rule applies to leadership in general. But it is even more crucial when managing a diverse team. Do not favour anyone. Avoid a common mistake managers make, often subconsciously, namely having a favourite subordinate, usually one who resembles themselves.
As a manager, you need to build relations with all your subordinates on an individual level. Then, when interacting with each team member, use the communication style that best suits them and always take into account the specific needs and characteristics of that particular person.
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