As a woman owned business, firstPRO is particularly sensitive to maintaining and growing diversity among our staff. I believe that a diverse workplace makes good business sense and it encourages a more culturally diverse client base. By embracing this, we can better understand the culture of more companies and ultimately bring new ideas and new perspectives to our own business.

America is a melting pot of people from all cultures, nations and backgrounds, and relationships cannot be built if we do not understand each other. We are a world economy, and we need be comfortable conducting business with everyone.
 
There have been studies that prove that a more diverse workforce does in fact contribute to the bottom line. When you think about it, we all like to do business with people we like and are comfortable with, so a diverse company naturally appeals to prospective customers.

In our company, we bring in outside firms to conduct "sensitivity training" with our staff, and we keep an open door policy for discussion and follow-up. There are times when one employee might ask another what appropriate protocol would be when dealing with an individual of another faith or religious custom. This is very eye-opening in training, because we are asked to leave our comfort zone and listen to the views and experiences of others.
In this day and age, we need to know enough about another person's culture to "put ourselves in their shoes" and debate our point in a way that is respectful but also representative of us. Respect is the key in all of these dealings. It is also helpful to determine what each other's ultimate goals are and work backwards. This way you can avoid making assumptions or prejudgments.

Working with different generations in the workplace will be more and more common with our longer life spans and an economy in which individuals will remain in the workplace longer. Respect for each generation when dealing with each other is essential. Being the older does not mean knowing it all, and being younger does not mean that someone is ignorant. Every demographic is bright and dynamic, and much can be learned from each of them.
In terms of communication, men and women do this very differently. Men tend to be short and to the point; they view communication as a means to solving a problem. Women, on the other hand, are more detail oriented and ask more questions. They use communication to create a connection or a bond. We have also found that men make decisions more quickly, but women tend not to change their mind once they have been made. Men talk more about facts, whereas women talk more about people, relationships and feelings.

I think the communication style of others is driven by the culture in which they were raised, their immediate family and their education. I have witnessed many individuals who have mastered their own communication style, and they are able to work with a broader client base because of it. It is not turning their back to their own culture, but rather modifying their approach to communicate to a new audience. (This is not unlike wearing a professional conservative suit when making a sales call.)

Most importantly, we need to avoid stereotypes and judgments. Treat everyone and every situation on an individual basis, because no one rule fits all. Each situation may require a different response, and each person should be looked at as unique and individual. Do this while maintaining your specific corporate mission, culture and requirements.

It is everyone's personal responsibility to continue to evaluate their own views and biases while still maintaining their own ideals and moral compasses. Our true values don't generally change, and we need to stay true to ourselves. At the same time, however, it is a big and ever-changing world, and those who don't recognize that will be left behind, especially in business. As a working professional, we must understand our own perceptions, behaviors and communication styles because it is these things that will contribute to your overall growth and prosperity.

As CEO of firstPRO Staffing and Executive Search, April Fawcett Nagel is the powerhouse behind one of the largest privately owned staffing and executive search firms in the United States. Since 1986, she has built this top female-run business in Atlanta - she began with just five employees; now she manages 125. With offices in both Atlanta and Philadelphia, firstPRO specializes in attracting, placing and retaining the most talented individuals in their specialized fields.