During a late night overseas Google Meet call, a colleague asked, “why are our workplace communications in such a disarray even when we have a suite of expensive communication tools like Slack, Monday, and Miro to manage our diverse teams and projects”?
A pertinent question – one I often hear in various workplaces. While communication tools facilitate information transfer, they do not capture the nuances of our culture and temperament that we always bring into our workplaces, intentionally or not.
Let me explain.
Diverse workplaces exist because talent transcends borders; the geographical, political, social, and cultural borders.
Now, how do diverse workplaces connect? They connect by communicating, both spoken and written. Our communication skills affect productivity, performance, and profit (or, impact): the three pillars of any business.
Communication is the core, yet the core is crumbling. The 2024 State of Business Communication global report by Grammarly and The Harris Poll finds that 1 in 5 business leaders reported loss of business due to poor communication. Their 2022 report states that poor workplace communication costs US businesses an estimate of $1.2 trillion a year. Think what would the cost be for the entire world!
What can be done?
Organisations and businesses need to upskill their diverse workplaces with intercultural communication skills.
This is a free 30-minute consultation call to see if we are a good fit. If you do not see a suitable time slot, do send an email to schedule a consultation. Once scheduled, kindly do join the meeting on time.
Understanding Intercultural Communication
Imagine trying to have a conversation with someone who speaks a completely different language.
Even if you both speak the same language (English mostly), cultural differences can make it hard to understand each other. This is where intercultural communication comes in.
Defining intercultural communication is about acknowledging that people from different backgrounds have different ways of talking, thinking, and behaving. It is like learning a new language, but for your mind.
With open-mindedness and respect, diverse workplaces can bridge the bias that makes its presence felt when we communicate with people from different cultures.
It means actively listening, being mindful of nonverbal cues, and avoiding stereotypes. It means being aware of your own cultural biases and trying to see things from the perspective of the other person.
When we can communicate effectively across cultures, we can work together smoothly, resolve conflicts amicably, and focus on productivity.
How can diverse workplaces gain intercultural communication competence? Through training.
Impact of Intercultural Communication Training
Intercultural communication skills are a necessity; it is crucial for global business excellence. Intercultural communication in the workplace extends beyond daily interaction; it guides diverse workplaces to build and improve collaboration, productivity, and workforce happiness.
Cultivate Global Mindset
Competence in intercultural communication goes beyond recognising workplace cultural diversity.
Intercultural interaction helps to build a thriving organisational culture that supports the development of a workforce capable of integrating diverse perspectives in chasing excellence.
Facilitating Collaboration
Intercultural communication facilitates meaningful collaboration between diverse workplaces dispersed across timezones.
Intercultural competence helps to acquire skills to bridge and navigate culturally-rooted communication styles, which ultimately drives workplace productivity and innovation.
Cultural Leadership
Leadership cannot ignore culture & communication. Such leaders drive organisational success on a global scale.
Workplace intercultural communication competence develops leaders who understand cross-cultural nuances and brings a diverse team together to pursue a common goal.
Employee Engagement
Are employees ‘quiet quitting’ and/or disconnected from the team?! Diverse workplaces need to make their employees feel seen, heard, and valued.
Intercultural communication training creates an environment where diverse perspectives build a collective sense of purpose.
Business Alignment
Business success necessitates a keen awareness of cultural nuances. Businesses thrive when cultural nuances are adapted in business practices.
Intercultural communication competence ensures that communication strategies, marketing approaches, and business practices resonate across diverse markets.
Continuous Learning
Regular intercultural communication training creates a culture of net positive experiences in a diverse workplace.
Competence in intercultural communication cultivates a diverse workforce who are committed to learn from diverse perspectives and they thrive as adaptable learners.
Intercultural Communication Training Services
Are you a people-first organisation?
Diverse workplaces with intercultural communication competence is the way ahead for people-first organisations.
My training program will empower your team to navigate the international and interconnected business landscape.
Leadership Development
Culture & communication is a core leadership development skill.
Leaders with intercultural communication competence lead multicultural organisations. Leadership isn’t about managing teams anymore.
My intercultural communication training program equips leaders to build trust and navigate workplace diversity.
Leaders can bridge communication gaps, resolve conflicts, and proactively create an inclusive work environment when they understand cultural nuances.
Upskilling Managers
The actions and words of the manager/s sets the tone for the team.
The relationship between the manager and their diverse team greatly impacts their morale and productivity.
Diverse workplaces have made the need for intercultural communication competence for managers mandatory.
My intercultural communication training for managers equips them with skills needed to navigate a diverse workforce and proactively build an inclusive work environment.
Organisational Culture
An organisation is as good as its culture.
Culture is the personality that sets the tone for how people work together, communicate, and solve problems.
With diverse workplaces, it is crucial to understand and respect cultural differences, as that is how employees show up daily.
My intercultural communication training helps your organisation to identify its culture and the roadblocks, and pave a path ahead.
Medium of Instruction
All intercultural communication training journeys are tailored per the organisation, team, and individual context. It is a mix of speaking, training, coaching, and mentoring.
Depending on organisational requirement, time zone, location, budget, and availability, I usually impart intercultural communication training through workshops and consultancy, which could be online, in-person, or hybrid.
The best way to begin is to send an email.
Workshops
Workshops are a hands-on approach to intercultural communication training. They typically involve a series of interactive activities, discussions, and case studies designed to enhance participants’ understanding of cultural differences and their impact on communication.
Workshops can be single-day events or multi-day sessions, or hybrid ones, depending on the specific needs of the organisation.
They are ideal for teams that need to quickly acquire practical skills and knowledge in intercultural communication.
Consultancy
Consultancy services offer a more tailored, long-term, and in-depth approach to intercultural communication training.
As a consultant, I work with organisations to assess their specific needs, develop customised training programs, and provide ongoing support.
This would involve everything from conducting cultural assessments to providing coaching and mentoring for individual employees.
Consultancy is often a long-term partnership that can help organisations to achieve sustainable improvements in their intercultural competency practices.