ABSTRACT
The heart of any successful multicultural and diversity-training program is focusing on the manager–employee relationship and the cultural context of leader–follower relationships. There are many successful multicultural and diversity-training programs in both the private and public sectors. The elements that make multicultural and diversity-training programs successful can enlighten managers in their efforts to create more culturally competent organizations. Multicultural employees can help other employees learn about them and their diverse cultures. An employee’s past experiences may make him or her more sensitive to perceived snubs or insults. Establishing common ground and a shared culture contributes to a good working relationship and can give all employees a sense of safety in taking risks and stretching their abilities. Workplace-environment surveys were conducted in a large corporation. The surveys were part of a multicultural program that involved more than 400 participants and their supervisors.
