International business has become the norm in our globalised economy, meaning cultural awareness has increased in importance, even for small businesses.
Multi-national teams are now commonplace across all sectors; managers, labour workforces, trainers, leaders, customers, suppliers and so on, have grown more and more diverse in recent years.
This has led to a need for an increased cultural sensitivity – understanding how culture affects the way businesses operate in different parts of the world, knowing what is acceptable business practice in various regions, or why colleagues and customers behave differently based upon their location and cultural heritage, can all have an effect on your business.
If you want this effect to be a positive one, then cultural awareness training should be high on your ‘to-do list’.
Here are three ways in which cultural awareness training can help you, your business and your workforce be more successful.
1. Cultural Awareness and Relationships Skills
Every time we interact with others, be it in person, on the phone, or via the internet, we need to use our interpersonal skills to build a relationship.
Interpersonal skills include
• Communication – this involves both verbal and non-verbal communication, alongside our ability to listen well to others. Being a good communicator means understanding the person/people we are communicating with, which is far easier if we have an understanding of their culture, heritage and customs. Knowing if we should exchange business cards at an initial meeting with Japanese counterparts, or how to behave when invited into an Arabic home, can all have a bearing on how people view us and how effective our communication methods are.
• Emotional intelligence – this is our ability to understand and manage our own, and others’ emotions. When we have a high level of cultural awareness we are able to understand what motivates or drives another, how they are likely to react to a situation, and why they make certain choices differently to us. Those people who have empathy, self-awareness, resilience and good social skills are usually highly emotionally intelligent.
Cultural awareness training improves relationship skills through its ability to inform us of correct procedures for business etiquette, how to manage personal introductions, what is acceptable (or unacceptable) in different social situations, and the reasons for different values and beliefs.
Understanding is key to acceptance, so the more familiar we are with a culture, the more acceptable and tolerable it becomes.
For a multi-cultural workforce, this acceptance forms the backbone of positive, successful working relationships, and can time, money and frustration!
2. Cultural Awareness and Complex Problem Solving
All businesses operate under various stresses. Sometimes these stresses are the result of problems which could be easily solved with new perspectives, improved communication, or increased understanding.
A key ‘hidden’ benefit of cultural awareness training, often noted by trainees after completing their course, is the ability to solve once complex issues.
This is primarily due to the introduction of new perspectives, and the increase in creativity linked to this, as a direct result of broader views.
Augmented understanding of issues such as, personal behaviour, accepted norms, regional difference, communication, language, social structure, business methods, and collaboration can all impact an individual’s ability to accept change and instigate transformation within the workplace. Once we understand different perspectives, we can learn from them.
3. Cultural Awareness and Cognitive Flexibility
Cognitive flexibility is the ability to mentally switch between thinking about two different concepts, or consider many things at once.
In a business sense, employees who possess this skill are a huge benefit to their employers as they can often multi task, solve complex issues with greater ease, switch between one language and another, or make reliable, informed decisions.
Cultural awareness training can improve cognitive flexibility as it introduces trainees to positive new practises, beliefs, processes and cultures, which in turn, leads to improved adaptability within new situations.
The ability to alter our perception – open ourselves to new ideas and concepts – is a key element in advantageous communication and practical decision making.
Recognising how cultural awareness training can benefit your business in an international market is essential in today’s global economy.
Companies that are able to utilise training courses, which lead their employees to greater personal and business success, will find that they also profit from these skills.
If you would like to find out more about cultural awareness courses, or discover other ways they can improve your productivity, please contact us.
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