Enhancing Race Relations In The Workplace

By Thomas Davis


Racial conflicts are highly emotive the world over. The public and private sector has to deal with flare-ups from time to time. This could affect your work relationships and productivity. It is the management of race relations that determines who well different communities coexist. Through proper management, interactions can be productive and the environment more conducive for all races. Here are excellent management tips to consider.

Be alive to the fact that racial issues will always arise. This amounts to acknowledging that such challenges exist. You will then find a way addressing them without waiting until something comes up. It makes people conscious without hiding or burying the issues under the carpet. Build awareness that is based on the possible challenges you will encounter depending on your work environment.

Educate your workers on racial conflicts and how they can be handled better. Education should begin with understanding the history of conflicts and why racial relationships are a problem in the world today. Such education should be for awareness purposes and not to condemn one group or the other. You must also provide a balanced view of the conflicts that shape relationships to the present day. Without a balanced view, it will be difficult to find solutions.

The conflicts should be domesticated to make it easier to understand. Numerous theories exist regarding racial confrontations. Even the incidences shared are always far-fetched. It is always easier to understand an issue when the examples are home based. People can identify with the hurtful feeling that other people are subjected to when discriminated. The point is driven home and the best solution obtained. Such domesticating leaves a lasting impression in the lives of persons involved.

Be quick and fair when addressing issues that arise in your organization. Speed is important because it prevents small issues from escalating. Some people have higher tolerance levels. You must therefore set standards and address the issues whether a person got offended or not. Fairness also sends a signal that even the small issues are important.

Enhance diversity in your organization. The organization must be seen to promote diversity through employment and assigning responsibilities to people or all races. An environment where only one race is represented will experience biases that might be too hidden for you to notice. All races must be given equal opportunities and treatment, whether they are workers or clients.

Be firm when dealing with racial conflicts. Workers and associates at all levels must be reprimanded for being biased. Firm action includes indiscriminate punishment and setting standards that are communicated to everyone. No one will claim that he or she was not aware of these standards. Firm action should also be taken promptly so that it is not assumed that the issue was ignored.

It is a huge mistake to assume that relationships between races will work automatically. Every organization must make deliberate effort to address issues whenever they arise. The best way to handle such issues is to be deliberate and proactive. It will be easier to prevent conflicts from occurring than to repair damage once the issue has erupted.




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