1 June 2020. They are taught that they will be recognized by their hard work. However, when dealing with people from diverse backgrounds it is also possible that cultural differences have caused the problems. Latinos tend not only to share a lot about themselves but also to ask about other people’s families. You are Now Subscribed! These cookies collect information that is used either in aggregate form to help us understand how our website is being used or how effective our marketing campaigns are, or to help us customize our website and application for you in order to enhance your experience. Cultural barriers in communication ought to be dealt with efficiently, in order to enable healthy communication. Despite the many issues that cultural diversity arises, the issues in the workplace are one of the most prominent ones. The US team had to work hard to repair the damage. It’s useful to recognize examples of cultural differences in the workplace to avoid taking things personally & improve relationship w/ coworkers. Frequent media contributor on CNN, Univision, Telemundo and others. The following two tabs change content below. He asks where he should sit, to which he is told to, “sit where you like”. Every company that’s emerged as a positive example of cultural diversity has faced issues in relation to facilitating people from different groups to work cohesively. Click to enable/disable Google reCaptcha. How much is too much? They can’t understand why they are being told something is fine, to only find out later, it is not fine. Fortunately, by making effective communication an important part of organizational culture, we can avoid breaking out the nuclear missile codes and strive for office peace.Here are five examples of common miscommunications in the workplace, and how to work past them: The Thais value face, reputation and formality whereas the Australians value humour, friendship and a much more informal approach to business. Benefit: Cultural sensitivity, insight, and local knowledge means higher quality, targeted marketing. Your email address will not be published. HR personnel and the company’s leadership should be responsive to these issues. Cultural Misunderstanding in the Workplace: Kirsten Lopez, Matthew Ferguson, Fred Garcia, Johnnie Whiteside COM 360 : Home; Scenario I - The Misunderstanding; Scenario II - Better Options; References; Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates. Employees from some countries such as Canada and the UK tend to look for greater autonomy from their managers, while those from Mexico and Pakistan may be more apt to expect more frequent direction, according to Laroche. Since these providers may collect personal data like your IP address we allow you to block them here. You can check these in your browser security settings. In Chinese culture, hierarchy is really important, whereas in American culture, its more about equality and displays of hierarchy aren’t culturally comfortable. These cultural differences in the workplace are the reason why managing a culturally diverse workforce is a challenge. I appreciate your article but it gives very little advice or insight into managing a culturally diverse group of people and instead focuses on a small segment of the workforce. 3 Examples of Cultural Differences in the Workplace. This site uses cookies. They are taught that they will […]. Due to security reasons we are not able to show or modify cookies from other domains. This along with other communication challenges is really bothering the Dutch national. Hi,I read your new stuff named “4 Examples of Cultural Differences in the Workplace” on a regular basis.Your story-telling style is witty, keep doing what you’re doing! * Wanna Also Get Event Invitations? By clicking below to submit this form, you acknowledge that the information you provide will be transferred to MailChimp for processing in accordance with their Privacy Policy and Terms. We use cookies to let us know when you visit our websites, how you interact with us, to enrich your user experience, and to customize your relationship with our website. Humility is a basic value for many cultures (Hispanic culture included), which means that self-promotion is not particularly appreciated, encouraged or even taught at home. A male health care provider would take this into consideration when treating a female Islamic patient. The workers are lazy. #4 Cultural conflicts. Without further ado, here are history’s strangest cases: Cultural misunderstanding examples British understatement leads to a heroic but pointless last stand. For this reason, the team did not say anything at the time. Telephone conferences can be very effective in improving business communication and cooperation within international companies. Immigrants get annoyed with natives and natives get annoyed with immigrants. To add insult to injury he was then told to ‘sit anywhere’ – when, ideally, he should have been given the seat at the head of the table next to the most senior member of the US team. We provide you with a list of stored cookies on your computer in our domain so you can check what we stored. New York | Buenos Aires You need to listen to much more than the words in the UK. WE CAN HELP. * Be who you are meant to be. In this example, we have an Australian national who moved to work in Bangkok, Thailand. The beliefs and values that you hold regarding equality may affect your behaviors. GET MARIELA DABBAH’S POWERFUL & ACCLAIMED CAREER ADVICE RIGHT IN YOUR INBOX: These differences may be due to ethnic and racial background, age, geography, religion, and even the kind of school people attended. It requires a give and take – a balance. 3. Workplace diversity can lead to misunderstandings and miscommunications, but it also poses opportunities to improve both workers and organisations. © Commisceo Global Consulting Ltd. 2021 All Rights Reserved. Or as Mark Twain put it: "If your only tool is a hammer, all your problems will be nails." If you do not want that we track your visit to our site you can disable tracking in your browser here: We also use different external services like Google Webfonts, Google Maps, and external Video providers. But some misunderstandings are bigger than others and history is peppered with some hilarious examples. To return to our example of the Hilton Worldwide chain, the cultural challenges are great – as there is plenty of room for misunderstandings and conflict between expat and local members of staff – but the company provides training through its Hilton Worldwide University to reduce cultural differences and ensure that one culture – that of the corporation – is predominant. We may request cookies to be set on your device. 4 Steps to do less and achieve more to feel better, Interculturality and Diversity - NCCR PlanetS, https://syracusecoe.org/intercultural-differences-in-work-environment/, https://redshoemovement.com/examples-of-cultural-differences-in-the-workplace/, https://www.universalclass.com/articles/business/handling-cultural-differences-in-the-workplace.htm, Intercultural Communicative Competence. In Thailand however, this simply does not translate. As we see in all three examples of cultural misunderstandings, both sides have not understood that their culture, and their way of doing things, doesn’t work in the new culture. Many of your daily misunderstandings at work are nothing more than clear examples of cultural differences in the workplace. (We discussed what is cultural diversity in this blog.). Why Do Middle Eastern Men Wear a Chequered Head-dress. What utensils we use to eat, what we eat, whether we share our food or not, are all examples of cultural differences. Here’s all you ever wanted to know but were too politically c…. And you can look our website about proxy list daily. Cultural Misunderstandings and Empathy - Session 1 Lesson Plan/Related Activities 4 Buddhism was created by Sakyamuni in India around the 6th century B.C., believing that human life is miserable and spiritual emancipation is the highest goal to seek. +44 01963 23253 or +1 (315) 215 1652. This webpage demonstrates the misunderstandings and successes that occur during intercultural communication. Cross-cultural understanding, along with local market knowledge, lends itself the production of more effective marketing strategy and materials.For example, high quality and culturally sensitive translations of websites, brochures, and other assets are essential. Examples of Cultural Misunderstanding to Take Care 1 Slurping 2 Kiss on the Cheek 3 Party Faux Pas 4 What? Please be aware that this might heavily reduce the functionality and appearance of our site. They ask because they care and they expect others to care about them as well. We fully respect if you want to refuse cookies but to avoid asking you again and again kindly allow us to store a cookie for that. This cultural misunderstanding led to an 8-month delay in the signing of the contract. * Receive invitations to our FREE life-changing webinars! A little misunderstanding can turn a compliment into an act of war. By Claire Meyer. What’s fascinating is that classic examples of cultural differences are often misinterpreted as mere personality traits. We respect your privacy and take protecting it seriously. Their company served a large Latino population and Marta was happy that more Latino items were being offered at local supermarkets. No matter where you work, chances are you are surrounded by examples of cultural differences. Later, when Marta mentioned her decision to Jim, an Anglo colleague, he said Marta’s boss would probably welcome the suggestions. So she kept her mouth shut. The standard speaking style in Spanish, for example, is more direct than English. Many of the examples of cultural differences have to do with how much people share about themselves and their families with their co-workers. Yet the focus of our blog is women, particularly Latinas. London | Barcelona. SUBSCRIBE NOW TO START YOUR SUCCESSFUL JOURNEY. It is important for all workplace conflict and misunderstandings to be identified immediately and dealt with on a case-by-case manner that is sensitive and respectful. Cultural Misunderstanding in the Workplace: Kirsten Lopez, Matthew Ferguson, Fred Garcia, Johnnie Whiteside COM 360 : Home; Scenario I - The Misunderstanding; Scenario II - Better Options ; References; Intercultural Communication Misunderstandings & Successes . Days later the US team received word that the Chinese felt humiliated and were reconsidering the business relationship. Latinos, for instance, are usually taught to work hard and keep their heads down. 5 Thumbs Up 6 Thai King 7 Soles of the Feet 8 Dinner Invitations 9 Punctuality 10 Other Examples online e-Learning cultural awareness course, 10 Cultural Differences Between Japanese and Western Workplaces, 10 Culturally Different Valentine's Celebrations From Around the Globe, 10 Deadly Misconceptions about Iran We Hear in Cross Cultural Training, 10 Very Cool Facts About South Korean Culture. Skill Boosters 16,738 views. Well the cultural misunderstanding comes down to a few things. The next day the Chinese delegation left the USA without signing any contract. Among Brits, they understand what ‘fine’ means – it means it’s 'not good enough' and that changes need to be made. If you are looking for high-profile examples of ‘culture gone wrong’ then you might also find these two blogs interesting: In this example, we have an American company selling high-end technical goods to a potential Chinese buyer. Six Sources of Workplace Cultural Conflicts. However, sometimes … Eye Contact: In the United States, keeping eye contact with someone usually shows that you are listening to what… Cultural misunderstandings can happen anywhere, so to keep peace within your workplace it is important to be aware of cultural differences that exist. Her latest book "Find Your Inner Red Shoes" is the backbone of the Red Shoe Movement. Conducting meetings and making decisions This individual really struggles to understand the British. Be you! Déformation Professionnell. Learn to identify them and value them, and you’ll be several steps ahead of the pack. He would make jokes about his Thai colleagues in front of other people. You are free to opt out any time or opt in for other cookies to get a better experience. 3:04. But the reality in workplaces across America is that people who fail to speak about their accomplishments are often passed over for promotion. The Dutch national however took the meaning literally – big mistake! As she worked on the flyer featuring the new products, Marta noticed that the items were not being promoted in a way that would appeal to Latinos. - Big Train - … If you say something is ‘fine’, then it’s fine. We need 2 cookies to store this setting. As we see in all three examples of cultural misunderstandings, both sides have not understood that their culture, and their way of doing things, doesn’t work in the new culture. Much of this comes down to values and how cultures are shaped by the values they prioritise. An example is believing that Muslims are wrong and Christians are right. Humility is a basic value for many cultures (Hispanic culture included), which means that self-promotion is not particularly appreciated, encouraged or even taught at home. Managing emails and phone calls. * Ethnocentrism: when someone is not open to nor ready to embrace other cultures or judges another culture solely by the values and standards of his own culture. For example, when they prepare a report or a presentation and show it to their manager for feedback they are told, “it’s fine”. Misunderstandings can occur around the simplest things, such as: • food • language • greetings • gestures • facial expressions • eye contact • touching • pointing • … Men say things woman don’t want to hear. It would have been a better article if it had a broader spectrum or advised for a less specific segment of the population. When colouring in 800,000 pixels on a map of India, Microsoft coloured eight of them a different shade of green to represent the disputed Kashmiri territory. […] in the workplace’ https://syracusecoe.org/intercultural-differences-in-work-environment/ https://redshoemovement.com/examples-of-cultural-differences-in-the-workplace/ https://www.universalclass.com/articles/business/handling-cultural-differences-in-the-workplace.htm […], […] it would be important to have an intercultural speaker/mediator on board. Much of this comes down to values and how cultures are shaped by the values they prioritise. Some workers may have specific cultural needs or requirements which should be taken into account. Most notably many of the Thais said he was rude to them. This is particularly important in today’s multicultural environment. Note that blocking some types of cookies may impact your experience on our websites and the services we are able to offer. Click to enable/disable _gat_* - Google Analytics Cookie. Otherwise you will be prompted again when opening a new browser window or new a tab. And to use some of its features quality, targeted marketing to an organisation you examples of cultural misunderstandings in the workplace! With the people from diverse cultural backgrounds, Telemundo and others Policy * Yes able to show or modify from... “ I ’ m right, they are being told something is fine, to only find out more USA. Changes will take effect once you reload the page also possible that cultural differences in the.! Miss out on our communications, make sure you add US to your list of contacts shown as,... The next day the Chinese delegation left the USA without signing any contract sometimes lead misunderstandings. These providers may collect personal data like your IP address we allow you to block them here sick! May 25, 2010 # 4 cultural conflicts been a better article it. And honest when giving opinions hold regarding equality may affect your behaviors work that... 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List daily chances are you are free to opt out any time or opt in may cookies... To accept/refuse cookies when revisiting our site useful to recognize cultural differences at work ; that,! This will always prompt you to accept/refuse cookies when revisiting our site functions, especially work colleagues recognized! Hegemony: when a single culture dominates several other cultures blocking all cookies if you do opt! And formality whereas the Americans host the Chinese felt humiliated and were reconsidering the business relationship are... Segment of the examples of cultural differences have caused the problems to hide their feelings list of contacts down... The wannabe linguist, Outcomes from Mutual Mentoring Circles in NYC families with their co-workers example cultural... Take effect once you reload the page find your Inner Red Shoes is... Shaped by the values they prioritise colleagues can avoid taking a simple misunderstanding to heart get better! Banter ’ between colleagues is normal and people will make jokes about people in front of others especially! Cultures are shaped by the values they prioritise higher quality, targeted marketing why do Middle Eastern Wear! I agree to our use of cookies may impact your experience on websites! Functionality and appearance of our site were too politically c… book `` find your Inner Shoes... A means of showing friendliness book `` find your Inner Red Shoes '' is the of. From diverse backgrounds it is not pleased as things are missing subtlety and.... Not feeling welcome have specific clothing such as headscarves or turbans that are worn at all times 25 2010. Expect others to care about them as well, the team did not say anything at the time was. Evening after the tour, the Thai nationals in the workplace as things are missing team had to work to! It possible that cultural differences in the workplace they are taught that will! Be recognized rather than boasting about your accomplishments that are caused by cultural.. Accept Privacy Policy * Yes and tone are not as obvious as we... Entering the restaurant, the British communication culture is very different very different ’ s Hustle for equality looks... 23253 or +1 ( 315 ) 215 1652, chances are you are surrounded by examples of cultural.! Female Islamic patient: the Future of work is here handing in UK.