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www.work-lifeassist.com

Global Culture Sensitivity

Program

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Our Objectives For Today

• Examine the effect of culture

• Explore dimensions of cultural awareness

• Identify generational factors

• Discuss how cultures differ

• Learn to deal with intercultural misunderstanding

• Explain how diversity inclusion breeds

organizational success!

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Diversity’s Role in Today’s Organizations

The most successful work organizations of the 21st

Century view diversity as an ongoing process of

social inclusion that can only have a positive impact

on the bottom line and continued success of the

company.

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The Effect of Culture

• Culture consists of all those things that people have

learned in their history to do, believe, value and enjoy.

• … the totality of ideas, beliefs, skills, tools customs and

institutions into which each member of society is born.

---- D.W. Sue and D. Sue

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Cultural Competence

The ability to understand and appreciate the similarity

and differences in customs, values, and beliefs of

one’s own culture & the cultures of others.

An ability to interact effectively with people of

different cultures.

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Dimensions of Cultural Awareness

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Primary Dimensions of Diversity

• Race

• Ethnicity

• Age

• Gender

• Religion (sometimes)

• Physical Ability (sometimes)

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Secondary Dimensions of Diversity

• Communication Style

• Work Style

• Organizational Role

• Managerial Level

• Economic Status

• Cultural Background

• Geographic Origin

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How Do Cultures Differ?

• How we view Time

• Our sense of Space

• Whether we value the Individual or the Group

• Whether we emphasize Tasks or Relationships

• The importance of Saving Face

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Sense of Time

•Elastic or rigid?

• Important to be on time for an appointment?

•Other priorities more pressing than

commitments and schedules?

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Sense of Space

• Personally and professionally

• Crowding

• Side-by-side or face-to-face?

• Psychological space

• Touching someone you don’t know

• What is considered polite? Rude?

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Saving Face

•Preserving one’s dignity and respect

- takes precedence over everything else

•Rejection or perceptions of inadequacy

- matter of honor

- can cause shame

•Never point out another’s mistakes

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Lost in Translation: Signage

• Thailand dry cleaner: “Drop your trousers here for best

results.”

• Paris Hotel Elevator: “Please leave your values at the front

desk.”

• Japanese Hotel: “You are invited to take advantage of the

chambermaid.”

• Paris Dress Shop: “Dresses for streetwalking”

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Individual and Group Orientation

• Cultures that value the Group

– Self is viewed and decisions are made within

context of group and by assessing how the action

will affect others in the group

– Benefit of the whole group is kept in mind

– Person may be embarrassed to be singled out,

even for praise

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How Will You Deal With Sources of Intercultural

Understanding?

• Expectations about the work environment

• Lack of knowledge about another culture

• Lack of sensitivity to differences between people

• Prejudice, racism, discrimination

•Language differences

•Nonverbal signals

•Cultural values

•Expectations of behavior

•Ethnocentrism

•Stereotyping, preconceptions

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Idioms From Japan

• He has a crooked belly button.

--the person is contrary or negative

• She has a higher nose.

--she is proud - a good thing

• It’s like pounding a nail into tofu.

--something that is futile or hopeless

• The nail that sticks up gets pounded down.

--being unique or different gets you punished

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Idioms From The U.S.

• He tried to throw his weight around.

• He put his foot in his mouth.

• I gave her a piece of my mind.

• It’s raining cats and dogs.

• Break a leg.

• I’ll eat my hat.

• She kicked the bucket.

• They bit the dust.

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Idioms From India

To put an alkaline paste

Meaning:

To dupe someone

Neither is the father nor the brother are big,only money is big.Meaning: Money rules over relationships as well.

To let the donkey graze in the farm, you will not reap fruit nor sinMeaning: Meaningless activity

Walk like an elephantMeaning: No care attitude

The dough is runny in povertyMeaning: In adversity, everything takes a bad turn.

The fruit of patience is sweetMeaning: Patience is virtue

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Bridging The Gap: Self Awareness Is Key

•Cultivate self-awareness of your own communication

style—how you relate to others and like others to relate to

you

•Reflect on own values and beliefs that are influenced by

the culture/generation in which you were raised

•Know your triggers, assumptions, and biases to better help

you gauge and manage your reactions

•View conflict as an opportunity to identify underlying issues

or assumptions that need to be evaluated

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Effective Multicultural Communication

• Greet who is before you in a friendly manner, using non-

verbal gestures (smiling, eye-contact, etc) especially if they

speak a different language

• Establish rapport

• Bridge language and accent barriers

• Be patient, flexible and sensitive

• Learn about the culture you are interfacing with

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Diversity Inclusion Breeds Organizational Success!

• Improved morale

• Increased motivation

• Greater work satisfaction

• More cohesive work environment

• Heightened communication

• Higher rates of employee engagement

• Greater cultural awareness

• Cultural enrichment of the workplace

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The Bottom Line

One culture cannot be judged by the standards or values of

another. The assumptions we make about people

determine, in large part, how we relate to them. As such, it’s

important to remember:

– We are now working and interacting in a 24/7 global

matrix

– Your cultural values directly and indirectly impact

everyone with whom you communicate

– Your level of sensitivity to different understandings of

time, space, business etiquette, team collaboration and

managing projects will advance or impede your career.

©UFS

Work-Life ASSIST

Always available. Always confidential.

1-877-286-0269

www.work-lifeassist.com