Students will work with teams to identify and discuss barriers and opportunities to improve communication and inclusion in the workplace.

1. Nonverbal and Cross-cultural
Communication
Diversity Awareness in the Workplace

2. Title VII prohibits discrimination based on
race, color, religion, sex or national origin. It
makes it illegal for employers to discriminate
based upon protected characteristics
regarding terms, conditions, and privileges
of employment.
Civil Rights Act1964

3. Objective: Students explore non-verbal and
cross-cultural communications and its
impact on diversity in the workplace.
“We have become not a melting pot but a beautiful mosaic.
Different people, different beliefs, different yearnings, different
hopes, different dreams.”
President Jimmy
Carter
1977-1981
Demonstrating Diversity
Awareness:
Part 2

4. Many traits create YOUR
identity
◻ How many of you are a (tiger)?
◻ How many of you live in (Biddeford)?
◻ In what future career are you interested?
◻ What is your favorite ice cream?
◻ What is your favorite pastime?
◻ Do you have older or younger siblings?
◻ What is your strongest subject/Weakest
subject?

5. Maine is a growing melting pot
NPR http://www.npr.org/2017/04/20/524536237/maines-immigrants-boost-
workforce-of-whitest-oldest-state-in-u-s

6. Biddeford / Maine

7. Diversity in the workplace
Many things make you who you are:
◻Culture
◻Individual preferences
◻Strengths and weaknesses
In the workplace (and at school) people need to
be able to work effectively with diverse people.

8. Diversity, Culture and
Misunderstanding
OK
Zero
x
$$
US
Franc
e
Japan
This gesture can mean:

9. Group discussion / summary
Three articles:
◻3 Situations where cross-cultural
communications break down
https://hbr.org/2016/06/3-situations-where-
cross-cultural-communication-breaks-down
◻Body Language for Global Business
https://www.forbes.com/sites/carolkinseygoma
n/2011/12/06/body-language-for-global-
business/#49bbf49a5e58
◻Why Diverse Teams Are Smarter
https://hbr.org/2016/11/why-diverse-teams-

10. Research Summary – See
Handout #1
Name of
article:
Publication:
Date:
Three Groups Read / Discuss and Decide
1.What is the main idea of the article?
2.What new information did you obtain?
3.Identify a favorite or interesting quote from the article
4.How might this information be helpful in the
workplace?
5.What did you find most surprising?
6.What are the consequences when communication
breaks down

11. Discussion
◻ Realize we are not all the same
◻ Expect to treat others as you would
like to be treated
◻ Self examination: consider your own
nonverbal styles and how they may
be perceived by others.
◻ Empathy and respect are closely
related.
◻ Counting on each other is how a
great team works.
◻ Teams are stronger when made up
of people with diverse characteristics
and strengths.
◻ You cannot hear your friend’s voice
◻ You want a child to come to your side
◻ You want to wish your friend good
luck from across the room
◻ You don’t know the answer to a
question someone has asked you
◻ You want to tell your friend to wait a
second
◻ You want to tell your friend to slow
down
◻ You want to tell your friend
everything is ok
Respect Role Play