International workplace cultures are rapidly gaining prominence in the globalized business world. Working with people from different cultures brings immense benefits, but challenges can arise as well. With the diversity of cultures that can exist in a single team, misunderstandings can easily occur. In this article, we’ll explore the impact of diverse international cultures on workplace dynamics and how to effectively lead global teams. Table of Contents 1. The Diversity of International Workplace Cultures 2. Cultural Differences and Communication 3. Leadership Styles Across Cultures 4. Work ..read more

Diversity in the workplace relates to different components of identity, from race and ethnicity to gender, age, and sexual orientation. To build an inclusive workplace, every organization should prioritize diversity training programs to help employees understand how their unconscious bias affects workplace dynamics—and how to address it. Ultimately, well-designed diversity training programs will foster a more inclusive workplace. We’ll discuss elements of such initiatives, along with common challenges and case studies. Table of Contents 1. Understanding Bias in the Workplace 2. The Need for D ..read more

Returnship programs serve as a bridge for professionals to reenter the workforce after a career break. They help parents return to work after longer parental leaves, caregivers who stepped away from their careers to provide support for partners or family members, and those who left their professional roles for various personal reasons. By encouraging talented people to return to the workforce, returnships connect companies with capable talent ready to hit the ground running. As such, returnship programs strengthen diversity in the workplace. In this article, we’ll explore what these programs ..read more

Dismantling gender barriers plays a key role in enhancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace. In this article, we’ll explore the current status of women in leadership roles—and how to enhance gender diversity in leadership. Women have been demonstrating their strong capacity to lead organizations for many years. However, achieving equity in the contemporary workplace remains an ongoing battle. Let’s examine the historical context of women’s transition into leadership roles and the evolving landscape of women’s leadership. Table of Contents 1. The Current State of Women in Leade ..read more

Cross-cultural sensitivity is of paramount importance in the increasingly globalized business world. Rather than just a moral imperative, it’s also a business necessity. To enhance engagement and cohesion as workplace diversity grows, leaders must prioritize cross-cultural understanding. A recent study shows that 89% of white-collar employees work on global teams at least on occasion. On these virtual teams, members may reside around the world. But participation on such a team doesn’t automatically equate to understanding. “Millions of people work in global settings while viewing everything ..read more

Today, organizations are recognizing the reciprocal relationship between work and well-being. Employee well-being influences how well people perform their roles. And employees’ experience at work shapes their overall well-being. So, strengthening employee well-being is crucial to organizational success. Most companies have substantial room for improvement in this vital area. According to Gallup, 35% of employees say they’re thriving in life while 56% report that they’re struggling. And 9% say they’re suffering. Among those who are struggling, a Deloitte survey found that heavy workloads, high ..read more

Performance reviews have played a central role in people management for decades. In the traditional workplace, employees would sit down once per year with their manager for an evaluation of their performance. However, modern workplaces have different needs than organizations of the past. Hence, it’s time to upgrade the review process. In this article, we’ll discuss how to rethink these practices by designing a process built for modern work environments. By responding to the growing need for change in the workplace, you’ll strengthen employee productivity and organizational success. Table of C ..read more

Being engaged in meaningful work increases employee motivation dramatically. In fact, meaningfulness is the single most important aspect of work to employees—more important even than pay or working conditions, research has found. Nine of 10 employees would actually accept a lower salary in exchange for more meaningful work. The desire for meaningful work is especially high for Gen Zers and Millennials, Forbes notes. Let’s discuss why meaningful work holds such importance, along with the psychological aspects of work that can make it feel more purposeful. Then, we’ll discuss strategies for mak ..read more

In the modern workplace, HR’s role has been shifting dramatically. Increasingly, HR is focusing on mentoring managers in becoming more effective leaders. Manager engagement and performance directly influences employee engagement, productivity, and well-being. In fact, a manager’s performance accounts for 70% of the variance in employee engagement, Gallup has found. (This is such a big deal that Gallup considers it their most significant finding of all time.) In turn, the success of managers depends on HR’s effectiveness in shaping their growth. By cultivating managerial excellence, HR plays ..read more

The 5S principles can greatly increase team and organizational efficiency. Using the 5S methodology, companies can create a safe, orderly work environment and workflow processes. Ultimately, this leads to continuous improvement of a team’s work. Originating from Japanese business culture, the 5S principles can be adapted to enhance team performance in contemporary work environments throughout the world. In this article, we’ll discuss the 5S principles and how to employ them to strengthen your organizational processes. Learn how to employ the 5S methodology to benefit your team’s performance ..read more