By Julia Gaspar
How does culture affect our levels of productivity?
In today’s global environment, people are increasingly working together
across cultures, often without truly understanding the underlying differences
that may be unintentionally sabotaging their efforts. In too many cases,
people assume that if they work for the same organization or speak the
same language, they will have the same objectives and goals. However,
while the end goals may be the same, the path to reach them often takes
many hazardous twists and turns. In some cases this may result in increased
levels of frustration and stress, lack of motivation and productivity,
and misunderstandings that ultimately affect the bottom line. In worst-case
scenarios, it can also sever a professional relationship or partnership
where one of the parties is left wondering what happened.
There are, however, antidotes to this problem. While
it is clear that most people will not change their core values and behavioral
patterns overnight, building cultural awareness skills will help them
work more effectively across cultures. The following tips will help increase
productivity by enhancing communication skills in cross-cultural settings.
1. Always ask for clarification in both verbal and
non verbal language. What you may consider a forthright and honest
way of bringing up an issue might cause your colleague to lose face because
of your direct approach, thereby creating distrust and strained future
interactions. Be aware of how you present the subject. Remember that body
language represents 55% of all communication. Also, don't assume you understand
gestures. What may be acceptable in one culture can often be an insult
in another. Use verbal expressions to explain any non verbal gestures
you use.
2. Don't take others' mistakes personally. If
you are working on a multicultural project and one of your team members
makes what you perceive to be an egregious mistake, remember that each
individual will bring his or her own work style and perspective to the
team. Use this as an opportunity to get to know your foreign colleagues
better by asking them for an explanation and trying to understand their
reasoning.
3. Accept that you don't understand what you don't
know. No matter how culturally savvy we may be, there are always nuances
that will trip up. If someone is behaving in a way that seems inappropriate,
take the time to ask him or her to explain the action instead of making
assumptions based on your own cultural filters.
4. Increase awareness of your own preconceptions.
We all carry cultural baggage that prescribes our behavior and values
and how we perceive the world and others. It also allows us to categorize
situations and people. The more we become aware of our biases, the easier
it will be to accept and understand others' differences. This will ultimately
help break down stereotypes and false generalizations about people and
their cultures.
5. Reinterpret behaviors from others' cultural perspectives.
Try to put situations in context. Ask for clarification of what motivates
them.
6. Be willing to test and adapt as needed. A
key component to creating cross-cultural competency is the ability to
observe how our own actions and behaviors impact the environment. It can
be dangerous to throw ourselves into a situation and "do as the Romans
when in Rome" because we are still blinded by our own cultural filters,
but through astute observation we can determine ways we should or should
not behave.
7. Don't judge others by your own cultural values.
Remember that they may not be shared by all cultures. There is no right
or wrong—only different. Learn to respect those differences.
8. Keep communication simple. Try to minimize
and customize correspondence as much as possible and always confirm that
there is an understanding. Avoid using words that have more than one meaning,
slang and industry-specific jargon that could get lost in the translation.
9. Recognize and accept that lifestyle priorities
differ across cultures. You may be a workaholic who adheres strictly
to deadlines, sometimes to the point of sacrificing your personal life.
But your colleague overseas may give precedence to his 50-member family.
While you may each be motivated by different things, it is important to
respect the boundaries of others and to modify your expectations accordingly.
10. ADAPT to your new environment by examining your
surroundings. ADJUST your thinking and behavior to the circumstances
or situation in order to be successful and ACCOMMODATE your style to meet
others' expectations.
Applying these principles may help divert a crisis.
At the same time, it will also provide you with more insight into yourself.
Keep in mind that gaining cross-cultural knowledge will facilitate building
stronger and longer-lasting relationships, help you redefine who you are
and understand what motivates you, increase your capacity for communicating—and
allow you to sleep more peacefully at night.
If you would like to learn more about this topic, consider
these AMA seminars:
Author Bio: Julia Gaspar is co-founder and
president of Intercultural Alliances, a cross-cultural training and consulting
firm based in Cambridge, MA. She can be reached at jgaspar@interculturalalliances.com.
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