A business’s ability to truly meet the needs and desires of customers comes down to the team members supporting these efforts. Employees with diverse backgrounds offer varied perspectives that grant leaders unique insight into current operations and potential business opportunities.
However, while these differing viewpoints can be beneficial for exploring all sides of a situation, conflicting views can also present challenges if the right internal environment is not created. To help leaders establish a culture that supports diverse views, open communication and team cohesion, 18 Forbes Business Council members offer advice on how to effectively manage a diverse team and ensure all perspectives are heard.
1. Analyze Your Leadership Style
The solution lies in your leadership style. Having a diverse team is the best thing that can happen to your business, as managing that team can have a far-reaching impact on business performance and growth. As a leader, you need to have the right values and a leadership style deeply rooted in those values, leveraging them to inspire the team. When conflicts arise, your team’s trust and respect will help reach a resolution. – Jennifer Orode, Ingenium Concepts Limited
2. Use Organizational Values As A Guide
Managing a diverse team requires a strong leadership team committed to fostering a culture guided by organizational values. These values should encourage open dialogue, make it safe to challenge differing perspectives and emphasize respectful communication. Aligning team interactions with these principles harnesses the benefits of diverse viewpoints while minimizing conflict. – Sara Khaki, Atlanta Divorce Law Group
3. Set Expectations Upfront
Keep it real by setting the vibe that all ideas matter and respect is non-negotiable. Build trust by being open yourself. When conflicts pop up, play mediator, not referee—focus on finding common ground. Instead of just talking about inclusion, show it by giving everyone space to shine and actually listen. Diverse teams are gold if you manage them right. – Daniel Levy, GovernmentOfficeFurniture.com
4. Make Space For Diverse Voices
Create space for every voice by rotating speaking roles during discussions and mapping diverse perspectives to visualize differences. Encourage curiosity over judgment, and frame conflict as a tool for innovation. By blending equity, clarity and shared goals, you transform diversity from a challenge into a driver of creativity and collaboration. – Vincent Gregoire, Musart
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5. Encourage Team Members To Form Genuine Connections
Invest time in building genuine connections between team members. This foundation of mutual understanding makes it easier to have honest discussions where different viewpoints strengthen the work rather than create division. Then, once this foundation is set, start each discussion with clear goals and actively draw out different perspectives by asking team members to build upon each other’s ideas. – Orinola Gbadebo-Smith, Hugo
6. Establish Regular One-On-One Exchanges
Diverse teams are invaluable. Building them and keeping all involved can be challenging, even more so due to flexible work allowances. My key is to maintain a regular, professional exchange with each team member to hear their voice and get their opinions. Clearly joint meetings are also necessary—but too often, I’ve missed invaluable input from introverted people. – Michael Wegmüller, Artifact SA
7. Prioritize Open Communication And An Inclusive Environment
Managing a diverse team requires open communication and an inclusive environment where everyone feels valued. Foster respect and empathy by encouraging all voices and embracing cultural differences. Collaboration is vital, especially in global, cross-functional teams where diverse insights drive innovation. Regular team building and goals unify efforts, leveraging strengths for mutual success. – Donna Mitchell, Mitchell Universal Network LLC
8. Foster Psychological Safety
To foster psychological safety, create an environment where all team members feel valued and respected. Use structured discussions to ensure every voice is heard, and frame conflicts as opportunities for innovation. By embracing diverse perspectives, leaders can drive collaboration, uncover creative solutions and build a stronger, more unified team. – Chad Angle, Reputation Defender
9. Set A Shared Goal
Set a clear, shared goal to align the team. Foster open communication by encouraging everyone to share their views without judgment. Use structured decision-making processes to balance input and reduce bias. Address conflicts quickly, focusing on solutions, not blame. Lead by example, showing respect for all perspectives to build trust and cohesion. – Henry Chen, Sapien
10. Have Everyone Participate
Participation and transparency are key. A strong manager makes room for every team member to add their thoughts, calling on each by name to solicit input. The manager’s role then transitions to exploring conflicting ideas, opinions and blockers, specifically highlighting these factors and encouraging all participants to speak so the team can explore the “whats” and “whys” until they find a path forward. – Cameron Deemer, DrFirst
11. Avoid Inserting Your Opinion First
It’s critical that leaders are not quick to insert their opinions in a diverse group. Ensure everyone else is heard first. Otherwise, the tendency for members of a group to fall in line with the leader will marginalize or completely quash alternative viewpoints. – Sacha Obaid, M.D., North Texas Plastic Surgery
12. Provide Structure For Debates
Managing a diverse team isn’t about avoiding conflict—it’s about using it. I encourage having structured debates where every voice is heard and the goal is clarity, not consensus. Conflict sparks innovation when handled right. If you celebrate differing views as the secret sauce to better decisions, you’ll turn tension into a competitive edge. – Dr. Christina Carter, Her Practice®
13. Invite Respectful Conflict
Firstly, conflicts are not always bad. Without conflict, it is really hard to grow. Diverse perspectives help with considering all aspects of an idea or change before moving forward. The more thought through and planned out an idea is, the higher the chance of success becomes. To ensure all perspectives are heard, the presence of proper systems and processes along with dedicated slots is highly important. – Adhyan Mangal, Metadrob
14. Leverage Structured Sessions And Feedback Tools
Managing a diverse team requires fostering inclusivity, clear communication and open dialogue. Encourage the sharing of ideas through structured sessions or feedback tools. View conflicts as growth opportunities, mediate fairly and focus on solutions. When everyone feels heard, trust and collaboration thrive, turning diversity into a strength for innovation. – Omomene Odike, U-Connect Human Resources LTD
15. Adopt A Sticky Note Approach
In group settings, I use a sticky note approach to ensure equal airtime. This involves posing a question, like a start-stop-continue exercise, and giving everyone 10 minutes to write one idea per sticky note. Notes are then added to the board, grouped by theme and prioritized together. This method influences the direction of the discussion and ensures all voices are heard. – Justin Nassiri, Executive Presence
16. Foster Connections Outside Of Work
Schedule team meetings focused on connection and relationship-building outside of work tasks. When people bond, they’re more likely to listen and value different perspectives. Additionally, appoint a moderator to manage discussions, ensure balanced participation and provide space for all voices to be heard. This approach fosters mutual respect and minimizes conflict in diverse teams. – Raquel Gomes, Stafi
17. Address Conflict Directly
Working with diverse, global teams has taught me that differences enrich creativity but need thoughtful management. Address conflict directly, using transparency and constructive feedback to resolve issues. Encourage equitable participation by facilitating balanced contributions during discussions. Focus on shared goals to align diverse ideas to common objectives. Diversity, when valued, drives success. – Michelle Gines, Purpose Publishing
18. Leverage Data
At our marketing agency, we work with client teams across different departments. These differing perspectives often spark great ideas. We welcome collaboration with a positive mindset. However, when conflicts arise, we always defer to data. We don’t mind spending extra time creating charts and numbers in a deck because it’s the most effective way to cut through opinions, resolve disputes and stay aligned. – Al Sefati, Clarity Digital, LLC
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