Obviously, America represents a wide range of people and walks of life. It goes without saying that every demographic imaginable will be represented in one way or another throughout my time at the US Military Academy, and the Army afterwards. Certain approaches are necessary to cooperate successfully with different groups of people. 

The first thing to remember is that ignoring differences does not solve anything. The differences between genders, ethnicities, and religions must all be accounted for, otherwise people will get offended and feel misunderstood, which creates further division. By identifying, and making adjustments to satisfy groups with different needs, everyone is more cooperative, productive, and hopefully satisfied. I myself have had experience leading a wide range of people, with different interests and backgrounds. In athletics, fine arts, business, and government, the approaches are all slightly modified to fit the group. This does not necessarily mean adjusting the leadership style, just forming it to function the most effectively with the group at hand. Just as important as recognizing differences, however, is stressing similarities. A team that functions cohesively is effective, but a group that insists on operating as a conglomeration of random tangents does not work. Forward focus and a common goal is the best way to achieve the best result from any situation. 

Again, this all boils down to understanding and respect. Through understanding that a team is made up of individuals with different skills and different backgrounds, a group can delegate duties more efficiently, and carry them out more effectively. Respecting that people have different needs and must be directed in different ways is also an important characteristic of a leader. Successfully balancing understanding and respect leads to a better team. The reason that I will be successful in working with people who are different than myself is because I have experience doing so already. Operating in different capacities toward unique goals while working with individualized skill sets is not exactly an easy task. It is, however, necessary if a group wants to achieve its fullest potential.