How to become more Culturally Aware

In my past posts on becoming Interculturally Savvy I mentioned the need to reflect on our own cultural background. By taking the time to understand our own cultural backgrounds and how it has shaped our perspective. Considering our own biases and assumptions, can be challenging, but it is nonetheless essential to be aware of them.

As a second step, I mentioned the need of identifying and breaking up from those Stereotypes formed throughout our lives. Not easy but once one identifies them, the immediate next step is to understand and appreciate the differences and similarities between our own cultures and those of others. This is what I call Culture Awareness.

Open your mind, be Culturally Aware

Additionally, the two previous steps described in my previous posts, there are many things we can do to be culturally aware. Before going into that new job, new company and/or new country, yes because a job change can imply many of these changes at the same time, one can:

• Educate yourself: Read books, articles, and other resources about the new culture and their values, beliefs, and customs. Be it a company culture, a country culture, a different region of your company culture, there are hundreds of books and pages on the internet with lots of information about cultural awareness. Now please be careful, if it’s insights into etiquette and protocol you want, I would consider specialized books or posts, that you can also find in travel guides. But if it’s a culture-specific information you want, I would suggest the books listed below.

• Travel and experience the new culture: Travel to the new country and immerse yourself in the local cultures. This can help you gain a firsthand understanding of it’s ways of life. Also travel to other countries in general to observe and get in touch with different perspectives, which will help you expand your points of view of cultures in general, making you more intercultural savvy every time.

• Experience the new culture through Netflix, HBO, … watching people’s stories and behaviors, listening to their language, and recognizing their beliefs and values can give us some amazing insights into the culture. In the case of Mexico, those telenovelas can also tell us a lot about the culture.

• Seek out diverse perspectives: Seek out people that work in that new company, or that country, people that are from there or who have been there. Listen to their experiences and perspectives. In general, be curious. from different cultural backgrounds, ask questions, be open-minded, and avoid making assumptions.

Be Culturally aware by opening eyes and ears

• When communicating with people from different cultural backgrounds, practice active listening. Pay attention to what they are saying, ask questions, and avoid interrupting. People like it when one is curious about their cultures, when wants to learn about one’s culture and people, and ways of living. Remember to listen is also to see, we must be open to both verbal and non-verbal communication. We must do this all while being respectful.

• To show respect for others’ cultural backgrounds, is a must, even if they are different from your own. Avoid making generalizations or stereotypes about other cultures.

• And finally, seek professional guidance: Consider seeking a professional cultural coach. I will help you explore and understand different cultural perspectives.

Cultural awareness will make you culturally strong

By taking these steps and being open to learning and growth, you can become more culturally aware and build stronger, more inclusive relationships with people from diverse backgrounds.

When you label somebody and put them in a box, then you put the lid on the box, and you just never look inside again. I think it’s much more interesting for human beings to look at each other’s stories and see each other. Really see each other and then see themselves through other people’s stories. That’s where you start to break down stereotypes. – Stephanie Beatriz

Further reading:

1. Hofstede, G., Hofstede, G.J., & Minkov, M. Cultures and Organizations: Software of the Mind. Revised and expanded 3rd Edition. New York: McGraw-Hill USA, 2010. ISBN 978-0-07-166418-9.
2. Trompenaars, F., Hampden-Turner, C. (1997) Riding the Waves of Culture: Understanding Diversity in Global Business. New York City: McGraw-Hill.
3. Erin Meyer, The Culture Map: Breaking Through the Invisible Boundaries of Global Business, Library of Congress Cataloging-in-publication data. USA, 2014.