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issues of diversity and cultural competence paper
cultural competency and diversity definitions
cultural diversity and cultural competence
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Cultural Diversity Competency
When thinking about cultural competence, it is hard to really understand without knowing what it actually means. According to Sue & Sue “Cultural competence is an active, developmental, and ongoing process, that is something people achieve through ambition rather than it just being achieved” (2003). What kind of competencies it takes to be successful working in a culturally diverse workplace, and how to develop these competencies are two things this paper will discuss. Also, a personal view-point from the author on; what kinds of strengths she has and what areas she needs improvement in regards to cultural competence, and a few ways she feels she could improve those areas in which she needs improvement.
Successfully Working in a Culturally Diverse Workplace
There are many competencies required to be successful while working in a culturally diverse workplace. Effective communication, mindfulness, uncertainty reduction, and emotion regulation are the four main areas in which could truly help promote more success in the workplace. These will be the main competencies discussed.
Effective Communication
In order to be able to communicate effectively, one must first understand that communication is not just speaking verbally. Communication consists of a variety of process in order to convey information from one person to another. Matsumoto & Juang state that
“Communicating can be a very complex and intricate process involving the exchange of messages between interactants, both verbally and nonverbally” (2013).When effectively communicating in a culturally diverse workplace; it is important to understand the people in the different culture may not communicate in the same manner as another would. Each cultur...
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...lop anger, aggression, and violence in communications. With self-awareness and patience people are less likely to experience conflicts in culturally diverse situations.
Works Cited
Kirmayer L.J. (2012) Transcultural Psychiatry, vol.49 no. 2. Doi: 10.1177/1363461512444673.
Retrieved from: http://tps.sagepub.com.library.capella.edu/content/49/2/149
Matsumoto, D., & Juang, L. (2013). Culture and psychology (5th Ed.). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth
Cengage Learning. ISBN: 9781111344931.
National Association of Social Workers (NASW). (2001). Cultural Competence. Retrieved from http://www.naswdc.org/practice/standards/NAswculturalstandards.pdf Sue, D.W., & Sue, D (2003). Counseling the culturally diverse: Theory and practice, 4th Ed.
New York: John Wiley. (Caprice D. Hollins) Retrieved from:
http://www.culturesconnecting.com/docs/WhatisCulturalCompetenceHandout.doc
Sue, D. W., & Sue, D. (2013). Counseling the culturally diverse: Theory and practice (6th ed.). Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons
Counselors today face the task of how to appropriately counsel multicultural clients. Being sensitive to cultural variables can be conceptualized as holding a cultural lens to human behavior and making allowances for the possibility of cultural influence. However, to avoid stereotyping, it is important that the clinician recognize the existence of within-group differences as well as the influence of the client’s own personal culture and values (Furman, Negi, Iwamoto, Shukraft, & Gragg, 2009). One’s background is not always black or white and a counselor needs to be able to discern and adjust one’s treatment plan according to their client.
Cultural Competence is a substantiated body of knowledge based of cultural “values held by a particular cultural group and the ability to cohesively adapt to individualized skills that fit the cultural context, thus, increasing relationships between employees, managements, and stakeholders, including patience and research subjects. Cultural competency is critical to reducing disparities and improving access to high-quality services, respectful of and responsive to the needs of diverse working conditions and individualized characteristics. The main focus emphasizes the understanding of cultural competence provide internal resources with skills and perceptions to thoroughly comprehend ones cultural attitude, increase the ability to multicultural diversity, and the ability to effectively interact with other cultures (Shelley Taylor, 2006, pp. 382-383), which is absent within the case study of Joe and Jill. Essentially speaking, principles of cultural competence are acknowledgement to the importance of culture in people's lives, respect for cultural differences, an...
Let’s begin with what is the Culture? It is defined as “the shared knowledge and schemes created by a set of people for perceiving, interpreting, expressing, and responding to the social realities around them" Lederach, J.P. (1995). Now let’s understand what cultural competence is. It can be defined as “the ability to honor and respect the beliefs, language, interpersonal styles, and behaviors of individuals and families receiving services, as well as staff who are
Remember, self-reflection is vital to becoming a culturally-competent counselor. The counselor should consistently re-examine their worldview and personal beliefs about diverse individuals and other cultures. The idea is for the counselor to explore their own prejudices, emotions, and preconceived notions of those that differ from themselves. Remaining curious and willing to learn about culturally distinct groups is a practical way of working effectively with varied clients in counseling and understanding what barriers and prejudices are typical in their
Cook, D. & Helms, J. (1999). Using race and culture in counseling and psychotherapy. Needham Heights, Massachusetts: A Viacom Company.
According to Cross, Bazron, Dennis, and Isaacs (1989), cultural competence can be defined “as a set of congruent behaviors, attitudes, and policies that come together in a system, agency or among professionals and enable that system, agency or those professions to work effectively in cross-cultural situations”. Denboba, MCHB (1993) believes that cultural competence is a “set of values, behaviors, attitudes, and practices within a system, organization, program or among individuals and which enables them to work effectively cross culturally”.
Cultural competence is significant to illuminate the decency of equally within society, it is essentially fundamental to functionality when interacting with diverse cultural groups. Cultural competence is essential for progressively developing standards, policies, practices & attitudes as well as acquiring knowledge of a given cultural origin & respond in a culturally-aware professional manner, respectfully. This manifests in extensive understanding & appropriately responding to the exquisitely unique variations in cultural variables of diversity that the professional & the client expresses through their encounters. The rapidly increasing diversity
As stated before this initiative must be continued in order to benefit current employees and future employees. This translates into current and future success of the organization if the initiative is administered correctly. The development of a cultural competence foundation for managers and their millennial employees must be built on. The desired end result is attaining cultural competence throughout the entire organization.
Since 1993, the American Psychological Association has required counselors to practice multicultural competencies to ensure all clients are treated with dignity and respect (Kim, 2011, p. 272). Culturally skilled counselors have become more aware and sensitive to their own cultural issues. Counselors are aware of their own values and biases and how the effect minority clients. Counselors also have a good understanding of the ever changing political and social system and how the United States treats minorities (Kim, 2011, p. 273). Cultural sensitivity is a very important part of multicultural counseling.
Today’s management in the workforce is composed of all types of people verses thirty years ago when white males held a majority of upper-management positions in companies. These positions are now held by a mixture of ethnic back grounds and women who hold just as many if not more management positions then men. Just by looking at the changes in management demographics shows how important it is for people to understand cultural competency in the workplace. Dr. Roosevelt Thomas Jr. (1999) stated, “Diversity is the collective mixture of whomever we have in our workforce characterized by their differences and similarities” (p.11). Managers and supervisors must understand the characteristics of a diversity mature individual; they also need to be able to articulate the differences between affirmative action, managing diversity, understanding and valuing diversity to build skills that transforms awareness into productive and supportive workplace behaviors.
Sue, D.W., & Sue, D. (2013). Counseling the culturally diverse: Theory and practice (6th ed.). Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons.
When individuals or groups from different cultures communicate, this process is called intercultural communication. The transaction process of listening and responding to people from different cultural backgrounds can be challenging. The greater the difference in culture between two people, the greater the potential of misunderstanding and mistrust. Misunderstanding and miscommunication occur between people from different cultures because of different coding rules and cultural norms, which play a major role in shaping the patterns of interaction (Jandt, 2012).
SUE, D. W., ARREDONDO, P., & McDavis, R. J. (1992). Multicultural Counseling Competencies and Standards: A Call to the Profession. JOURNAL OF COUNSELING & DEVELOPMENT, 70, 477-486.
5. Ponteroto J. et al.( 1995) (ed.) Handbook of Multicultural Counselling, Sage Publications Inc.: USA