Question

What are some things you need to be aware of when working in a cross-cultural environment?

Answer 1

It is not a secret that a company’s success is heavily supported by its people, their skill set and their dedication and keenness to the work they're performing.
An employee is defined by their talents, knowledge, and skill to perform a particular role or meet a client’s needs. this is often the “visible” side of an employee. The “hidden” side, which is equally as important, is that the cultural identity. The culture of an employee impacts their perception of life, work, business relationships and the way they handle challenges.

In a multicultural team, good teamwork and willingness to know the opposite person are even more important for a healthy company atmosphere.

Language barrier

When your colleagues speak different languages, it's very easy to misunderstand one another. Pronunciations can cause confusion and other people may feel uncomfortable asking someone to repeat themselves, especially when things are stressful.

To illustrate this with personal experience, once I applied for a job, during the interview we were discussing quotations, and my interviewer, who is from Egypt, was saying “quote” but to me, it seemed like “court”. It took me a short time to know what he meant, and that I still remember how confused I felt once I had to reply but I didn't have a clue what he was asking about.

Never feel too shy or uncomfortable to ask your conversation partner to repeat the sentence and elaborate. it'll prevent you from making costly mistakes and show your partner that you simply are really making an attempt to try to your best at understanding him or her.

The Cultural Background

Things that are normal or routine in one culture are often totally unacceptable in another culture. an individual cannot possibly remember all the cultural specifics of another person, and sometimes people unintentionally make inappropriate comments or behave during away someone isn't familiar with.

Let me share an easy example regarding emails, calls and business hours: Suppose there is a traditional practice to not expect replies by email after normal working hours and that I will only disturb a colleague if the matter is extremely serious. However, in other countries, like Russia and India, the tendency is to figure 24/7 in response to the industry needs.

Familiarize yourself with the behavior patterns accepted in your colleagues’ countries, investigate their traditions and lifestyle, confirm to mind what you're saying until you learn what's acceptable for this person. Give it some time, eventually, you'll navigate the simplest thanks to respectfully communicate.

Mutual Understanding

Cultural and language barriers can cause frustrations when there are miscommunications. Don’t let emotions take over. believe the target you would like to succeed in, and use the foremost appropriate means for it. for instance , the email doesn't convey the speaker’s emotions and limits the likelihood to ask questions and elaborate on the topics being discussed. It is often very easy to misinterpret what someone means in an email. Calling someone on the phone, hearing their tone and asking questions can alleviate problems caused by a barrier.

If you are feeling something isn't getting done correctly, make an attempt to know the opposite person and believe the simplest way to communicate with him or her. Don’t expect that your way of approaching the matter is that the only option. Explain your reasoning and make the communication person-oriented, and you'll be surprised by the extent of the understanding you'll receive reciprocally.

Working with colleagues from different backgrounds and cultures can sometimes be challenging, but it's so rewarding once you can learn from one another and open your eyes to other ways of life