Identify possible difficulties (or opportunities) you or your organization may encounter due to cultural differences. The following are 12 tips on how to improve safety in the workplace: 1. Found inside – Page 87... employees with anti-discrimination law, suggest behavioural changes, and increase cultural awareness and cross-cultural communication (Pendry et al. A general consensus exists among counselors that . Given the unprecedented divisiveness along racial/ethnic, gender, religious, political and other lines in the U.S. and globally today, this skill is increasingly important to build bridges to create unity. Let’s face it: we all have assumptions of certain cultures, and every culture has a stereotypical view of other cultures that might be racist. Build a coalition to get things done. Being culturally aware is the backbone of communication and the foundation of respect, which is achieved by taking a step back and understanding that someone might have a different point of view because of their background. About 150,000 workers in British Columbia reported getting injured on the job in 2016—a 2.8 percent increase from claims reported in 2015. The benefits of being culturally aware are innumerable, and with the global economy, intercultural teams are becoming the norm. This might consist of attending more cultural festivals and events, getting to know new people with unique backgrounds and, if you can afford it, travelling to exotic locations. You should also tell your employees not to address a foreign customer by their first name at the initial contact, and to allow the customer to take the lead. Clear and polite communication reduces the chances of surprises, crises, and confrontation. SHRM Foundation reports, "At a very basic level, culturally appropriate communication and nonverbal business etiquette are essential to . 2. . Expected Outcomes: Improved key competences (see list above). Another benefit of cultural diversity in the workplace is the increase in creativity among teams, and the ability to have a more diverse set of solutions to specific problems. Now that you understand what cultural awareness is and why it is important in the workplace, you can begin to integrate it into your life – professionally and personally. The Importance of Self-Awareness in Building Cultural Competency. In today’s multicultural world, it is more than likely that your office will employ individuals with unique backgrounds that may be foreign to the place the business is situated. Moreover, it’s important to observe the attitudes and behaviours of foreign customers and colleagues, and know the underlying logic and set of values that shape their actions and behaviours. In the end, patients are able to benefit from a staff that is unified in working together to provide stellar care. If you and your employees have the training, skills, and knowledge to work effectively with a diverse group of people, you’ll also be able to open more doors for your business. The company may have a senior vice president who is Greek, a college intern from South Korea and an accounting clerk whose family originates from El Salvador. Get training for global citizenship. It shows you’re polite, respectful, and caring, and this will be sure to open doors for you and your business. What is cultural competency? The Intercultural Awareness and Communication Programme (IAC) seeks to enhance relationships in the workplace, between colleagues, and with customers and stakeholders. Activities that focus on cultural sensitivity have many benefits: The Importance of Cultivating Cultural Awareness at Work. Every day presents opportunities for growth, and your management team needs to understand how to teach cultural competence in healthcare. You can also sign up for DeakinCo.’s Global Citizenship credential, which shows you how to promote cultural literacy and awareness in the workplace. A better cultural sensitivity, insight, and local knowledge give companies an insight into the target market. To ensure that your office party goes off without any hitch, be sure to mindful of other cultures when it comes to food and drink. Introduce a policy for honoring a variety of cultural and religious practices. Workplace Culture Improvements: . How to Improve Cultural Competence in Healthcare: Daily Practice Daily practice: Management needs to take an active role in daily building of an accepting and culturally competent workplace setting. Communicate in a way that resonates. Awareness of how your own culture and experiences have shaped how you see others. The future. "Why is Ouch! important? To incorporate cultural awareness into your classroom curriculum, you should: 1. offer clues or tips. model thought processes. Building real cross cultural synergy is only accomplished through properly considered cultural awareness training. If you're in the midst of a transformation or change program you also want people with high organizational awareness on your team. Cultural awareness is simply being aware of the many different cultures around you, whether it is in the workplace or at school. Local market knowledge of different cultural groups comes handy to understand competitiveness and profitability in a global market. As part of an ongoing commitment to building a diverse, inclusive and culturally aware organization, here are 6 ways to improve cultural competency: Communicate a culture of belonging in which individuals from underrepresented groups feel valued and heard. Cultural diversity can help increase employee engagement. This pithy statement from sociologist Michael Kimmel reflects the state of research on privilege and also calls attention to the importance of counselors raising self-awareness about how privilege affects their work. In this Forbes article , the writers points out "Research on creativity and innovation has been consistent in showing the value of exposing individuals to experiences . How you communicate to others, both verbally and non-verbally, can be a deal maker or deal breaker. In The Culture Map, INSEAD professor Erin Meyer is your guide through this subtle, sometimes treacherous terrain in which people from starkly different backgrounds are expected to work harmoniously together. They have the ability to motivate others to work towards a shared goal. Cultural awareness recognises that . Managers and leaders with the training and skills . 5. In an increasingly fragmented society, the ability to connect with peers, coworkers and neighbours with diverse backgrounds and abilities is invaluable. On the other hand, if you have foreign customers and employees who don’t speak English very well, tell your other staff members to stick to the point, use short sentences, and avoid humour and colloquialism. This, combined with increased globalisation of the business world demands a heightened awareness of cultural diversity . Since a company – large or small – is one big happy family, you want to ensure that everyone is welcome, included and satisfied. This is particularly important in today’s multicultural environment. Factors such as geographic location, lifestyle, and Celebrating diversity can help increase cultural literacy, awareness, and acceptance. Communicate in a way that resonates. Learning in the flow of work. Cultural intelligence offers a number of benefits, including: Creating productive relationships based on giving importance to people's differences. As the summer draws closer you may be looking for some ideas on how to spend your time and if you want to increase your cultural awareness at the same time, here's some ideas on what to do. Download our ‘7 in 1 CV & Résumé Template Bundle’ of best sellers and use them in your job search! A good cultural understanding among employees of the same company promotes unity, productivity . Transparency and openness are crucial to diversity consciousness. The earlier you address cultural conflicts at your workplace, the lesser it will affect your employee’s feelings. Activities that focus on cultural sensitivity have many benefits: As a result, cultural awareness at a company of 1000 employees is crucial because of business globalization and the need to celebrate and appreciate diversity. Creating an inclusive culture is important to the success of diversity efforts and will benefit engagement and productivity. Some cultures don’t like talking about pricing upfront, so your employees will need to customise the way they discuss their estimate for a project. Like diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), achieving cultural competence is a long-term process of learning, listening, understanding and adapting. Step 1. If your employees know that they can raise their concerns without hesitation, cultural issues will be addressed sooner. Cultural competency is considered critical: Social workers are charged with the responsibility to be culturally competent as per NASW's Code of Ethics (2000a) NASW details standards for cultural competence in social work practice. Depending on who's sitting at the table and their background, a "Yes" may mean anything from, "Maybe" to "I'll try my best.". Cross-Cultural Medicine provides important background information on various racial, ethnic, and cultural groups, their general health problems and risks, and spiritual and religious issues. Either way, being aware of the diverse array of cultures is crucial in today’s highly globalised world. Or you could sign up for continuing education courses in this area to improve your business qualifications and get promoted to another part of the globe. Andrew is also the author of 'The War on Cash: How Governments and Banks Are Killing Cash and What You Can Do to Protect Yourself'. They are inauthentic and disingenuous. It may or may not clash with the values your company maintains. Cultures based on mutual trust thrive! Current research on cultural competence focuses on sensitivity to cross-cultural differences and the ability to adapt to other cultural environments (e.g., Hansen, Pepitone-Arreola-Rockwell, & Greene, 2000), or reflective awareness of cultural influences on one's thoughts and behaviors (Chao, Okazaki, & Hong, 2011). Instructions: 1. It can help prevent cultural conflicts and allow your employees to better deal with foreign customers and colleagues. Australia is one of the most culturally diverse nations in the world, with 46 per cent of Australian's born overseas or has a parent who was born overseas. Or you may just want to be more familiar with other languages, religions, family structures and beliefs. They know the unwritten language and tone of their organization. Express interest in the ethnic background of your students. Here are four tips for developing cultural awareness. In a business setting, formal training will cover things you need to be aware of when it comes to business. Use our smart and accurate testing platform to find suitable career matches. Remember, cross-cultural communication might be one of the different ways in misunderstandings. Take on board the holidays of other cultures to show that you recognize and welcome the diversity. 3. This way, you do not have a preconceived notion of how a person from particular backgrounds is supposed to behave or think that someone of a specific religious denomination will condemn your lifestyle. This can help colleagues to work better together and create synergy in the workplace. For employers an essential skill in the provision of culturally appropriate services, cultural awareness entails an understanding of how a person's culture may inform their values, behaviour, beliefs and basic assumptions. The answer; by promoting cultural awareness in the workplace and improving your employees’ cultural literacy skills. By leading with understanding and empathy, you are creating a more homogenous, inclusive and cooperative environment, which may foster innovation and boost productivity levels than being judgmental. Put yourself in situations with people from different cultures. Act as a role model for your peers. Build the importance of cultural sensitivity into your company policy so that your employees know to show everyone the respect they deserve regardless of whether or not they are . Contribute to the cultural diversity of your own workplace Remember, diversity can take many forms. Found inside – Page 107For and years, inclusion women in the and workplace minorities were sounds not—and simple in some ... List ways to increase personal cultural awareness. Attempting to increase cultural awareness, either as part of organisational efforts or as part of your personal enrichment, only works when it is a voluntary decision, not something pressured by the state or by special interest groups. These basic principles are applicable to most cultures. This book is a must for managers and students, and offers general information to all who wish to expand their knowledge of people to people interaction. Plus, informality can be inappropriate in some countries. An employee with an East Indian heritage may be a vegetarian. Make your employees' comfort level at work a priority, and listen carefully to their concerns, show empathy and take action to ensure that they . An accessible, solidly researched tool for the largely unexplored topic of dealing with cultural dilemmas, both domestic and international, in global practice. This will show your employees that you recognise and accept their cultures. Driven by Difference identifies the management practices necessary to minimize conflict while maximizing the informational diversity found in varied values and experiences. The benefits of being culturally aware are innumerable, and with the global economy, intercultural teams are becoming the norm. Build a coalition to get things done. Includes learning objectives, facilitator guidance, and reproducible materials. It can be as simple as an email notice in your company’s news bulletin. Found inside... form of diversity is of great benefit to any organization because it helps increase cultural awareness, knowledge, and communication in the workplace. Whatever your background, your unique perspective, culture, and experiences can enrich the professional experience of those around you. A lack of cultural knowledge can limit a company's ability to develop its international business. 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