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Keys to Cultural Keys to Cultural CompetenceCompetence

for the Workplacefor the Workplace

An open access workshop presented by: The Diversity Program, Central Vancouver Island Multicultural Society

Last Modified April 21, 2023

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Workshop ObjectivesWorkshop Objectives To understand the context of workplace diversity

and the changing workforce environment To define cultural competence and the

differences between individual and workplace competence

To raise our individual and group awareness about biases

To discuss strategies to increase our skills and knowledge related to cultural competency

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Did You Know?Did You Know?Within five years:Canada’s “visible minority” population will have grown from 4 million (2007) to an estimated 8.5 million.100% of the growth in the labour force will be from immigration.With more and more skilled immigrants coming to Canada, all workplaces are becoming more diverse. With diversity comes unique perspectives and innovation.

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Did you Know?Did you Know?The Aboriginal population is the fastest growing population under the age of 25, representing an increasingly educated, readily available workforce. (Aboriginal Resource Council 2010)

In 2011, 23.2% of Aboriginal workers in B.C. were between the ages of 15 and 24 as opposed to 14.0% of their non-Aboriginal counterparts.

In 2011, unemployment rates for Aboriginal people in B.C. were almost double (14.6%) the rate for non-Aboriginal workers (7.4%). This indicates that this group is underutilized in the labour market.

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Cultural Competence:Cultural Competence:the ability to function effectively in culturally diverse situations and with diverse people.

For Individuals:A set of consistent behaviours, attitudes, skills and knowledge that create respectful interactions with people different from ourselves.

For Workplaces:Recognizing the value of diversity and having policies and procedures in place which support a respectful organizational culture.

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Icebreaker 1: Icebreaker 1: Synonym Synonym TwistTwist

Scenario: In pairs, discuss your weekend. BUT every time you use a verb during the conversation (saw, ate, enjoyed) you also have to come up with a synonym (watched, ingested, liked).

Try it! What do you notice? What made this challenging?

Debrief:This ice breaker is an exercise to increase awareness about the challenges of communication and the English language.

Definitions

Verb: The part of speech that expresses existence, action, or occurrence.

Synonym: A word or phrase that means exactly or nearly the same as another word or phrase in the same language.

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Icebreaker 2: Icebreaker 2: Unspoken Unspoken Truth?Truth?

Look at your partner and answer (without communicating):what did they have for breakfast this morning?where did they go for their last holiday?what is their marital status?how many children they have?what is their ancestry?how many generations they have been in Canada?

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(Weaver, 1986)

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Keys to Cultural Keys to Cultural CompetenceCompetence

AwarenessSkillsKnowledge

Result: Developing cultural competence results in an ability to understand, communicate with, and effectively interact with people across cultures.

(Mercedes & Vaughn, 2007)

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Awareness: Awareness: Barriers in the Barriers in the WorkplaceWorkplace Low tolerance to ambiguity or high

uncertainty avoidance Overly task-oriented or high need for

individual achievement Overly closed-minded and inflexible

(Weaver, 2009)

What are some other examples?

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Awareness & SkillAwareness & SkillYour Own IdentityYour Own IdentityFirst step: Develop knowledge and awareness about your own cultural awareness & identity.

Questions to ask Yourself:What is my cultural background?What are some things that I value because my culture values those things? (think below the surface of the iceberg)How well do my beliefs and values fit in with my culture's values?Have clashes between my values and those promoted by my culture harmed me in any way?What things would I like to pass on to children from my culture?

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Activity: WhoActivity: Who Am I, Who Am I, Who Are You?Are You?1. Who Am I?Write down 5 words that describe who you are (your identity). Underline the one word you feel BEST describes the identity with which you most associate yourself.

2. Who Are You?Write down 2 words that you think BEST describes the identity of the person you are paired with. Wait to discuss!

3. Who Do You think I Am?Discuss with your partner. Have they used the same or different words to describe your identity? How does their view of your identity make you feel?

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Strategies to Develop Strategies to Develop your Awareness, Skills your Awareness, Skills & Knowledge& KnowledgeSome general strategies to take with you to your workplace, home, relationships and community:1. Value diversity2. Engage in cultural self-assessments3. Understand the dynamics of difference4. Develop cultural knowledge5. Adapt to culture, especially to its deep structural aspects6. Establish cultural reciprocity and share your culture!

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DISCUSSIONDISCUSSION

In what ways can you incorporate what you have learned into your life and work?

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CONCLUSIONCONCLUSION

Your New KEYS to Cultural Competence:•Your understanding for the context of workplace diversity and the changing workforce environment.

•Your ability to define cultural competence and the differences between individual and workplace competence.

•Your greater awareness about biases & stereotypes.

•Your ability to discuss strategies to increase our skills and knowledge related to cultural competency.

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What to do next?What to do next?

See our Cross-Cultural Communication Workshop

to further develop your skills

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ReferencesReferencesCommunity Action Forum. (2008). Making the case for cultural competence. Retrieved

from www.pillarnonprofit.ca/search/bf0dd28c3dc9534390a5a1066e025a7c/

Hanley, J. (nd). Five stages toward cultural competence: Beyond the tip of the iceberg. Whole Communities. Retrieved from http://www.wholecommunities.org/pdf/privilege/10_Beyondthetipoftheiceberg_JeromeHanley.pdf

Martin, M & Vaughn, B. (2007). Strategic Diversity & Inclusion Management magazine, pp. 31-36. DTUI Publications Division: San Francisco, CA.

Weaver, G. (1986). Understanding and coping with cross-cultural adjustment stress. In R. M. Paige (Ed.), Cross-Cultural Orientation, New Conceptualizations and Applications. Lanham, MD: University Press of America.

Weaver, G. (2009). Overcoming barriers to cross-cultural communication. Intercultural Management Institute, University of Illinois.