ABSTRACT

As our workplaces become more diverse, organizational leaders and management are recognizing the need to create culturally safe and inclusive environments where individuals can enjoy equal opportunity, dignity, and wellbeing. Research also shows that diversity in the workplace can contribute to better performance. Yet, at the same time, organizations are often concerned with conflicts in the workplace around cultural differences in teamwork and perspectives. The question then becomes: what qualities do we need to possess as organizational leaders, managers, and staff to achieve greater inclusivity, individual wellbeing, and performance? Misunderstanding and bias related to what organizational culture is needed to ensure workplace wellbeing and success might be limiting our ability to answer this question. This chapter delineates how we can learn to lead in times of increasing cultural diversity and, thus, offers insights into creating wellbeing for all and harnessing the strengths of diversity in the workplace, which leads to greater performance.