Gone are the days when everyone in the workplace looked alike. Thank goodness! The multicultural workforce is here to stay. Therefore, it is in your best interest to learn how to create an environment where members of a variety of ethnic, racial, religious, and gender backgrounds can thrive. The changing face of the workforce and increasing globalization of business has propelled the management of cultural differences onto the top of the agenda for business leaders.

Like most things in life, those things worth having don't always come easy. If not managed properly, cultural differences can increase costs through higher turnover rates as a result of interpersonal conflicts and miscommunication. However, the benefits of this diversity include improved decision making, innovation, and greater success in connecting with foreign and ethnic minority customers.

Here are some tips to get you started.

Don't confuse diversity with inclusiveness
"The Inclusionist"- Simma Lieberman, who is the president of Berkeley, California based Simma Lieberman and Associates finds that companies often believe that if they are diverse, people will automatically feel like they are working in an inclusive environment.

"Diversity has come to just mean representation by number. Inclusion means that everyone has an equal chance to show what they can do, and be recognized for what they bring, and help the company increase profits. It also means that they understand that hiring on the basis of numbers and nothing else means that they don't really believe that "minorities," are not capable of being the best candidates. I believe that we have to go beyond diversity and inclusion to utilization of individual talent and skills," states Lieberman.

Be prepared for resistance
Not everyone in the organization will value diversity as the diversification of the workforce usually results in change. We know that change can be difficult for people. Suddenly, they are asked to work with people who may have a different way of doing things.