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The world in which we live is essentially global. We come into contact with people from other cultures every single day. Cultural diversity permeates every aspect of our daily lives, whether it is through entertainment, social media, the streets, or our social networks. Thus, being able to navigate these international waterways has become essential. Let’s talk about what you should know to become a true cosmopolitan.
The Difficulty of Cultural Difference
Diversity in culture is awesome. It’s fascinating to go to different nations and immerse oneself in their traditions, customs, and social mores. However, there are undoubtedly some difficulties associated with cultural variety. We occasionally lose sight of other people’s cultures because we are so ingrained in our own. We assume that everyone’s “normal” is the same as ours. However, that is completely untrue! To get along with one another, we must therefore become more conscious of how our culture shapes us and how other cultures may shape others. We risk (unwillingly) stepping on someone’s toes if we just meet folks from diverse backgrounds without question.
However, where should we begin with the goal of our cultural investigation? The Culture Map, a fascinating book by Erin Meyer, explains how the many cultures throughout the world differ in terms of eight criteria, all of which are mostly tied to work:
Culture Map: Cultural Diversion
These distinctions lead to miscommunications. For instance, I spent a few years working in Austria, which has a far more hierarchical society than the one I’m used to, despite coming from Denmark, which has a highly egalitarian culture. I was merrily wearing socks everywhere I went and addressing everyone I saw with “du,” which is German for “you.” In general, I wasn’t giving much thought to the need to convey a sense of order, formality, and politeness in all I did. I also discovered that, in contrast to Denmark, Austria has a more flexible concept of time.
I was fortunate to find Moonshot Pirates to be highly accepting of my cultural differences. My actions would have likely caused some conflict if I had been employed by a more conservative organization.
Cultural Diversity’s Potential
Wouldn’t it make more sense to avoid cross-cultural collaboration if there are so many cultural differences? Well, no. The benefits of cultural variety are numerous!
Creativity and innovation are fueled by diversity. Your brainstorming sessions will produce greater results if you include a wider range of viewpoints. This applies to all of your creative endeavors.
The best of everything. Every culture has both positive and negative aspects. You can include the positive aspects of different cultures while also learning about the negative aspects of your own.
individual growth. Making connections with people from different cultures will help you gain a deeper understanding of your own identity and the ways in which your culture has influenced you. You won’t be able to make more thoughtful life decisions until then.
Keep your heart and mind open. Your heart and mind will become more receptive to other people if you embrace the traditions of different civilizations. All of your connections will improve as a result of your increased empathy.
And a whole lot more. The endeavor to explore cultural differences and cultivate empathy and openness is unquestionably worthwhile. Increasing your awareness of other cultures as well as your own is always the first step. After that, transform the awareness into comprehension, mindfulness, and acceptance. Additionally, always communicate! If you feel uneasy or misunderstood in the company of someone from a different culture, explain how their actions make you feel. And tell them what your “normal” is. Your cross-cultural interactions will be well-founded as a result. Continue reading to learn more about cultural variety and the meaning of being a global citizen!
I wish you luck!