Motivation and Cultural Diversity: Embracing Differences
Do you know that people all over the world are motivated by different things? That's means no two people have exactly the same goals or ambitions; and it takes time to get to know each other. So, before you start feeling impatient with or frustrated by a person's cultural differences, keep in mind that without being part of their society, there is no way for you to understand what drives them.
This blog post will highlight some ways people can make a positive impact on global diversity through education and understanding. It will also present strategies for how to work with others who come from different backgrounds.
11 Tips for Working with People Who Are Different From You:
1. Learn about your co-workers. Take the time to get to know how different people prefer to work, and take their interests into consideration.
2. Ask questions that require concise answers, such as "What do you need help with?" or "How can I help you?" You could ask a more personal question if they are open to it, such as, "How was your weekend?"
3. Be tidy in your appearance and follow dress codes when required by your employer or the company's culture.
4. Learn how to interpret facial expressions in your colleagues' culture, so you will not be misinterpreted.
5. Always ask permission before making important changes such as giving feedback or changing a schedule that will impact other employees.
6. Check in with your new colleagues about topics such as family, children, and religion and explain the boundaries of things you are comfortable talking about.
7. Ask others how they prefer to be addressed and follow their guidelines when addressing them by their first name. If you make a mistake, apologize and correct yourself right away rather than waiting until later in the day or workweek, which could make them feel uncomfortable around you for the rest of the time that you work together.
8. Find out how people prefer to be communicated with and follow their guidelines.
9. Be proactive and get involved in local community events so you have a better understanding of what drives your co-workers' passions for the community.
10. Find out what motivates others personally, professionally, and culturally. This can help you get along with them more effectively than if you are using the same methods that motivate you to perform your job duties.
11. Don't expect non-native English speakers or people from other countries to understand technical terms in the same way as native English speakers or Americans do, since there are many different definitions for these words among different cultures that speak English as a second language. Try to learn how to say the words in your native language so you know what they mean.
Educating Yourself on Cultural Differences:
1. Read books and articles about workplace diversity so you can better understand how others view the world, and feel more comfortable asking questions and seeking help if necessary.This can help you develop your working relationships with others by gaining a better understanding of their cultural values. Read books that are written by authors from other cultures, or find an author who speaks your language or whose work relates to your personal interests, such as religion, family, or children.
2. Ask about people's lives and careers outside of work. Open up the lines of communication by sharing what is important to you to maintain good relationships.
3. Listen to music from other countries and cultures that may be part of the culture that you want to learn more about. Pay attention to which musicians, musical instruments, or other elements have been put into the music, including lyrics and titles. You may notice many similarities between the songs if you listen carefully enough. Pick some songs that you like and recommend them to others in your group or team who are learning about different cultures through your work experience. They will be impressed with your multicultural connections!
4. Read books relevant to your work and personal values.
5. Find out about people's values, beliefs, traditions, and customs through your research and experience in the workplace. If you are interested in learning about another's culture but would like an understanding of their past as well, one good way to learn is to read work of historical fiction by authors in the country where you live that relates to your culture or country of origin. For example: The Katipunan by nationalistic Filipino author Jose Rizal provides insight into the struggles that natives faced against Spain during the Spanish-American War in 1898. In The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini, a story takes place during the Taliban Era of Afghanistan from 1990-2001. In the Color Purple by Alice Walker, an African American story takes place during the Great Depression and Civil Rights Era from 1930-1970's.
4. Learn something new every day! Leverage your unique and special combination of genealogical background, cultural history, and personal values as a starting point to make a great first impression in your workplace.
5. Show off some of your most important values with pride in a creative way. If you are born into a different culture or country than where you currently live, it can be easy to forget what makes you unique if you have lived in one place for many years. Keep in mind that many people from your place of birth are proud of their culture and heritage. If you have lived abroad for some years, you might be better at speaking the culture's native language than your current country's language. This can make a great impression if you are comfortable using it in public or with new acquaintances.
6. Embrace your differences and treat them as opportunities to learn something new rather than sources of frustration or embarrassment.
7. Avoid making assumptions by asking questions directly to the other person who is different than you are so you will not offend them or cause misunderstandings that could be avoided through clear communication.
8. When in doubt, always ask how to say yes or no, thanks, and please in the language that best fits the culture you are working with.
9. Always make sure that you have understood what is being asked of you before making decisions or taking actions. It can be difficult sometimes to know the correct etiquette for a specific situation. Always ask your new colleagues how they prefer to be addressed and follow their guidelines. If you make a mistake, apologize and correct yourself right away rather than waiting until later in the day or workweek, which could make them feel uncomfortable around you for the rest of the time that you work together.
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Conclusion :
Thanks to the vast influence of technology and massive shifts in population due to warfare, famine, forced labor, and political unrest, increasing numbers of people are migrating from their homelands into diaspora communities around the world. From that perspective, we can see that diversity is everywhere; it encompasses all professions and present day lives. When diverse populations represent nearly one-third of the total human population on Earth, there is no doubt that a great deal of effort will need to be dedicated toward learning how to get along with people who are different than you are so that we can all enjoy a better quality of life.
In Taiwan alone, there are more than 8 million international students with different mindsets than those from local families.