Diversity and Employee Engagement in the 21st Century Organisation

Abstract

Globalisation has affected the work environment, leading to an increase in the workforce. Workforce diversity describes ways employees differ by way of values, beliefs, experiences, backgrounds, preferences, and behaviours. While organisational success depends on effective management of its workforce by leaders, the adoption of appropriate leadership style, like inclusive leadership, has become one of the strategic mechanisms to manage the diverse workforce in the 21st century organisation. Inclusive leadership, a relational leadership style, tends to be open, accessible, available, self-aware, committed, collaborative and culturally intelligent. Premised on social exchange theory, these unique characteristics make the diverse subordinates of inclusive leaders feel valued and reciprocate by being dedicated, absorbed, and working with vigour. The chapter advocates for inclusive leadership style as the preferred leadership style to manage diverse workforce to promote employee engagement in the 21st century organisation. The chapter ends with suggestions for future research.