Cultural diversity in the workplace

Did you know that if the world population were reduced to 100 people, 61 of them would be from Asia, 12 from Europe, 13 from Africa, and 14 from the Western Hemisphere? Or that only 7 would speak English? How about the 69 people who would practice a religion other than Christianity?

When our world is shrunk to the size of a village, it’s easy to appreciate how diverse our fellow coworkers, friends, and neighbors are. And indeed, the world is getting smaller. New technologies are bringing faraway lands straight to our desktop, companies are importing and exporting to foreign countries, and employers more than ever are hiring international staff to better serve the diverse population.

That’s why it’s so important to understand how to interact appropriately with internationally diverse groups no matter the situation.

For several months, Tracy Smith from the human services division of the City of Bloomington has trained hundreds of city employees, including many engineers and transportation experts, on how to work with clients who come from different backgrounds. Besides translating important phrases like “Please stay off the hot asphalt” in Spanish, Russian, Somali, and Hmong, Smith also helps educate city professionals on culturally specific practices such as particular body language cues, familial roles, and religious differences.

“It’s about having an awareness that people in different cultures do things differently,” she explained.

Smith also coordinates local speaking series featuring Bloomington citizens who have unique cultural experiences, such as former refugees, to share their thoughts about moving to and living in Minnesota.

Obviously, it’s impossible to grasp complex cultural nuances in just one sitting, but to help you interact with people from other cultures, Minnesota LTAP has compiled the following short list of helpful tips.

Stereotyping

It’s important to remember when interacting with people from different cultures not to stereotype them based on your previous experiences with their culture. People develop different sets of values, preferences, and styles of communication based on a diverse number of factors in their lives. Just because one person was raised in the same country as another doesn’t mean they’ll hold the same values.

Language

Language and communication differences are undoubtedly the most difficult obstacles to overcome. To ease communication strains with non- English speakers, try to avoid jargony words, speak slowly, and be patient. Remember, the English language is infamous for its grammatical and pronunciation complexities, and even native English speakers sometimes stumble over correct spelling and word context.

Time differences

Most Americans gauge their daily schedule on the hands of a clock, understanding productivity through the maximization of time. But other countries, especially Latin American and African nations, often see time as plentiful rather than fleeting. The concept of strict deadlines, therefore, can be confusing to non-Westerners.

Individual versus collective

One of the most significant differences to consider when working with people from different cultures is the individual versus collective mindset. For example, many Americans operate as individuals, gauging their successes or failures on their independent contributions to their company; this is often valued as a trait of independence and selfmade success. Collectivist cultures, on the other hand, value employees who work well in groups and have loyalty toward other employees as well as their company. This can sometimes change workplace dynamics and make it more difficult to measure accomplishment based on Western standards.

Cultural diversity doesn’t just entail differences in dress and language. It also encompasses different ways of thinking, managing, and communicating. Diversity is a concept that counters discrimination and embraces the inclusion of people with various experiences and backgrounds such education, parental status, geographic location, language, and culture. Diversity is about learning from others, providing support and respect to those with similar and different experiences, and creating an encouraging workplace that welcomes new opinions.

Whether they’re your coworkers, friends, or clients, it’s always important to be courteous, respectful, and inviting to others. And if you find yourself stumbling around unfamiliar cultural traits, remember Smith’s number one rule. “Just ask the person.”