| Nowadays, people work in global offices with | | | | appropriately in the future. Speak out again |
| colleagues from different worldviews, religions and | | | | discrimination in the workplace and encourage |
| attitudes. It is important to be aware of cultural | | | | understanding. |
| differences and how they affect team dynamics, | | | | 4. Celebrate holidays of other cultures. Festivals |
| communication and management style. Multi-cultural | | | | and celebration are a great way to learn about other |
| workplaces also offer a wealth of new experience | | | | cultures. Have a lunchtime meeting where you share |
| and self-growth opportunities. Here are 7 ways to | | | | some traditional food and discuss what the festival |
| improve multicultural relationships in your workplace. | | | | means. People are the same underneath and festivals |
| | | | | often reflect what is important to all cultures – |
| 1. Make it ok to ask questions. Some people | | | | family, faith, children, honouring the past and looking to |
| may feel that they cannot ask a person where s/he is | | | | the future. |
| from for fear of being offensive or being seen as | | | | |
| racist in some way. This can prevent communication, | | | | 5. Create cultural awareness factsheets. If your |
| team effort and even friendship from happening. | | | | company employs people from other countries, give |
| Encourage people to talk about where they are from, | | | | them some material on what it is like to work in your |
| and their culture. Most misunderstanding comes from | | | | company and country. If you send employees |
| lack of communication. If you can ask questions of one | | | | overseas to meetings or conferences, they should |
| another, then the growth in relationship will enable more | | | | also know how to work in those cultures. For example, |
| effective working together. | | | | what is the customary greeting within each culture? |
| | | | | These worksheets will help provide context for |
| 2. Learn about each other’s countries and | | | | interactions and enable easier work relationships. |
| cultures. Many people want to travel to exotic places | | | | |
| and experience a different culture. But nowadays, | | | | 6. Treat people as individuals. Culture does not |
| there might be someone from one of those countries | | | | define a person, and cultural stereotypes can also be |
| in the office. Put a map on the wall and stick pins in it | | | | responsible for more misunderstanding. Don’t jump |
| linked to photos of your team members so you can | | | | to conclusions just because someone is from a certain |
| see where people are from. Encourage people to add | | | | place. Get to know people as individuals regardless of |
| to the display with information and other pictures and | | | | their culture. |
| use it as a group talking point. | | | | 7. Identify gaps in your own knowledge. We are |
| 3. Be respectful and open-minded. Cultural | | | | all a work-in-progress, and we can always learn more. |
| differences can sometimes be confusing or | | | | Identify what you don’t know about your |
| misinterpreted. Be respectful of the way other people | | | | co-workers and their culture. What can you learn |
| work and interact. Try to learn from them instead of | | | | about your own culture that affects the way you |
| considering your way to be the best and criticising. | | | | work? How can you improve the situation so your |
| Apologise if you feel you might have offended | | | | team can work more effectively together? |
| someone, and ask them how you can behave more | | | | |