The key ingredients to establishing relationships with people who differ from you are mutual respect and a desire for understanding. As a manager, you should not let cultural differences become the basis for judgments or criticism. Differences are neutral by themselves. What we do with them instead is the key. This activity is important because diversity management is a fundamental aspect of management in general. The goal of this activity is to test whether you can tell the difference between "diversity aware" statements and those that are merely stereotypes.

For each item listed below, select if the statement exemplifies diversity awareness or a stereotype.

1. I read a study published in a prestigious journal. It found that Northerners are significantly taller than Southerners. I believe it!

(Click to select) Diversity Awareness Stereotype

2. I've met a couple of Northerners in the past. They were heavy-set. Northerners must be heavier on average than us.

(Click to select) Diversity Awareness Stereotype

3. It might be true that Northerners are taller on average, but I don't make anything of it.

(Click to select) Diversity Awareness Stereotype

4. It might be true that Northerners weigh more than Southerners. They should probably diet or exercise more.

(Click to select) Diversity Awareness Stereotype

5. Yes, Northerners are taller, but height differences within Northerners are bigger than height differences between the North and South.

(Click to select) Diversity Awareness Stereotype

6. Yes, Northerners weigh more. I imagine very few of them are skinny like us.

(Click to select) Diversity Awareness Stereotype

7. Northerners may weigh more, but it's probably because they are taller.

(Click to select) Diversity Awareness Stereotype