Diversity Consciousness, Research Paper Example

I agree with the authors that diversity consciousness provides leaders with the skills to promote interpersonal openness and to build relationships in a global, multicultural environment because diversity consciousness motivates us to learn from everyone as well as engage in critical self-evaluation in order to identify personal bias and stereotypes. It also encourages us to engage in active listening in which we merely not hear what others say but make an active effort to understand them. Diversity consciousness also makes us open minded and willing to put ourselves in others’ shoes. We are also willing to expand our knowledge about others (Al-Qahtani, Al-Gamdi, & Al-Shaawan). When we know more about others, we become less judgmental and learn to value the differences.

The authors also contend that three of the most important skills are adapting, thinking and communicating inclusively, and self-monitoring and they are right. Diversity consciousness means one is welcoming of diverse elements and people (Say) which means one is also willing to adapt according to the circumstances. Diversity consciousness allows us to get rid of our ethnocentric ideas and embrace diverse values. In addition, we also seek inclusiveness of everyone thus, when we think and communicate, we attempt to be aware of the different characteristics of those we are interacting with and sensitive to their values and beliefs.

Similarly, diversity consciousness allows us to more actively monitor ourselves so that our actions and communication don’t reflect personal bias and stereotypes. In addition, we also become more active observer of others so that we can learn non-verbal cues in other cultures that may not be readily apparent. Moreover, we also think more carefully before speaking so as to avoid embarrassing others. We carefully watch others’ reactions so that we can adjust our behavior accordingly and avoid the mistakes in the future.

References

Al-Qahtani, F., Al-Gamdi, A., & Al-Shaawan, M. (n.d.). Diversity Consciousness. Retrieved February 20, 2012, from http://www.slideshare.net/heesooca/diversity-consciousness

Say, B. (n.d.). Diversity Consciousness and the Process of Wholeness. Retrieved February 20, 2012, from http://www.corecommunity.com/?id=divers_article