Managing Diverse Work Groups in the U.S. Coast Guard for Mission Effectiveness

The U.S. Coast Guard recently developed and implemented policies that foster and sustain diversity to benefit mission effectiveness. A diverse workforce can enhance the responsiveness and effectiveness across the Coast Guard's broad mission scope, but differences can also divide teams to the detriment of a goal or even an entire organization. Going forward, Coast Guard leaders will benefit from specific training and guidance to bring out the best from work groups consisting of men and women of different ethnic, racial, and functional backgrounds on a daily basis.