Here’s How to Manage a Multicultural Workforce

Leading a multicultural virtual assistant team is a challenging but very fulfilling undertaking. Many are uncomfortable or even scared considering the sensitivities of people with different racial backgrounds. But knowing people from different cultures and allowing the team to grow while respecting each other’s differences can be a very positive experience. Here are some pointers you might want to consider when leading your own multicultural workforce.

Know your people

Know the people in your team. As a leader, you should make that a personal mission. Don’t stop on knowing the person. You also need to read up on their culture or be intentionally aware of their traditions. The more you are familiar with your team’s cultural differences, the better you can navigate around them as professionals. This adds another tool to your leadership arsenal that gives you the ability say what you need to say without tripping cultural triggers and misunderstandings.

Communicate often – face to face

Do not rely on words or voice. Language barrier is real. If you can, always go for video calls. Seeing facial expressions provide a more complete communication experience. There is a possibility that because of the language, some might think the other person on the line is angry, agitated, sad, or stressed when in fact it could be a perfectly normal way to say things in that part of the world.

By talking to your virtual assistant team face to face, you get to know them better and what they actually mean when they say some words that are probably not your first choice in phrasing specific messages.

Do not stop on talking over audio and video. You need to communicate as often as you need to. Constant communication allows you to know more about the members of your team, their personality, choice of words, their communication style, and etc. The more you know them, the more effective you are as their leader.

Trust is everything

Mutual trust must be built before cultural differences can be dealt with effectively. This will start on you, the leader, the owner of the business, the manager (or whatever leadership role you are assuming). To built trust, you need to be trustworthy. Be as authentic as you can, be straight with your people, be real, and never put on two faces especially in difficult situations.

Credibility is the foundation of trust. When you have built your credibility, encourage everybody in your team to do the same. Teach your team to be always upfront, to be honest about what they feel in every situation. Make it clear that talking behind their teammates’ back is a no-no.

Have some rules to follow

You need to have a code of conduct on your team. Rules make way for standards in language and in dealing with each other, a key element especially when your team come from different racial backgrounds. Many things are at play and rules help keep the peace while simplifying how people should relate to each other.

For example, there can be rules on the words that can be and can’t be said in any form of communication. There can also be rules on sharing religious inclinations, just to make sure that sensitivities in that area are not accidentally tripped.

As a founder of a multicultural organization, I get to learn more about the people of the world and get to practice the leadership skill of being sensitive to other people’s feelings and emotions.

There is nothing more exciting than working with people that have a different take on things because of their culture and race. It allows you to grow as a professional and as a virtual assistant leader.