I worked for most of my career in cross cultural teams and if someone told me about cross cultural training, I would have gladly taken them on board. It would have raised my awareness that values such as punctuality and the use of humour or silence vary across communities. It would have strengthened my interpersonal skills, alleviated my frustrations of not being understood and be a better team player. As I am results oriented and my work used to be my life, I got over my culture shock and learn to bridge the gap rapidly. Cross cultural communication or skills are useful and adds value to your existing set of skills.
1.?????? Understand the main cultural norms
The world is a global village, thanks to the internet, with businesses working with foreign suppliers and expanding their geographical footprint beyond their national borders. The existing cross cultural frameworks provided by Fons Trompenaars, E T Hall and others builds your cross cultural intelligence. It raises your awareness that certain values such as punctuality, taken for granted in the western world, are not considered important in other communities. The need to know your family background are sometimes considered more essential in some countries whilst in others this is considered as being intrusive.
2.?????? Speaking the same language does not bridge the gap
Speaking foreign languages is definitely an asset for a career in a multinational environment. However, there is more to learning a language. ?Speaking English definitely helps our cross cultural intelligence. What is not taken into consideration is that we have American English, Mauritian English, British English, Australian English. All of them have their own subtleties and typical expressions.
3.?????? Focus on similarities to bridge the gap
What is most important is to understand the foreign counterparty?s cultural norms, leaving our judgement at the door and keeping an open mind.? There are differences and similarities in every culture. Focusing more on the similarities helps to bridge the gap when we are trying to build cross cultural relationships.
4.?????? When in Rome, do as the Romans without compromising your core values.
The more you meet people from different backgrounds, the easier it will be for you to understand what you can relate to and what is far beyond your reach. There is always a ?no go? zone and this zone slowly decreases in size as you finetune your cross cultural intelligence. Let?s be clear reaching out to people does not imply compromising on your core values and ethics or forcing yourself to change who you are. It is more about being curious: ?going to sharing a meal with local colleagues at their usual snack bars, going to those places where the local people usually go, understanding how marriages are celebrated ? really simple things!
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Cultural norms are taken to be general principles and there are always exceptions or degrees of applicability. What is most important is to know yourself so well that when learning about a new culture, it is easier for you to identify the gaps and work out on how to bridge them. Remember ?practice makes perfect?
Author: Valerie Cheong Took
I am a coach and use a mix of techniques involving Neuro Linguistic Programming and Transactional Analysis. I am also a firm believer of the Law of Attraction and apply it in my daily life. I work with people who are looking to differentiate themselves in their career or who would like to reinvent themselves using their existing work experience, skills and knowledge. I coach people who have achieved their goals in some areas of their lives and would like to replicate this success in other parts of their lives.
Source: http://valeriecheongtook.com/?p=251
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