“The first step to dealing with people of different cultural backgrounds is to be clear about your own cultural background and how it defines and limits your worldview. Being culturally fair or just means that you hold certain beliefs, attitudes, knowledge, and skills” [1].
Self-awareness is essential for anyone who wishes to evaluate or prevent their own cultural bias from controlling their actions and interactions with others from another culture. Multiculturalism in the workforce is becoming the norm. Between the spread of cultures and the increasingly global nature of business in the modern era, knowledge of preconceptions is necessary to prevent bias or miss-communication between coworkers.
“The reason that being aware of our own culture is so important is that only in that way can we keep from projecting our own values onto others. By “projecting” I mean that universal tendency to think that other people are doing what they are doing for the same reasons we would. One reason this happens is that we are so unaware of the values that drive us that we are unable to distinguish them from the values held by other cultures” [2].
Company Sales Pich – Importance of Cultural Awareness
Business perspective on Cultural Awareness
The following are five methods/websites that you can employ to learn about your own culture:
1) Peace Corps Thirteen Questions to Compare Cultures
Follow the link above to see the question-are that the Peace Corp uses to teach their volunteers about their host country. For each question about the host culture answer the questions as if you were a member of the host country. Once complete ask yourself: How do your values and culture compare to that the Peace Corp attributes to “America”? What does this tell you about your own culture?
This is a useful tool that will help you not only define your culture in your own words, but helps you compare your own culture to that of what is considered mainstream American culture. You may be surprised on the differences between your culture and the mainstream.
2) Comparison Table[3]. Rate your organizational culture against the questions below. This will give you a range to work with when working with others. How you approach each of these element’s or situations well help you interact with others that may have a different value system or organizational structure.
| Low Context(‘Put it in writing’) | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | High Context (The situation is more important than words) |
| Individualistic (‘Me first’) |
Collective (It’s all about us) |
|||||
| Monochronic(‘Do one thing at a time and be on time’) | Polychronic (‘There’s a time to go fast and a time to go slow. Do more than one thing at a time’) |
|||||
| Power Distance Low (‘Leaders are no better than anyone else’) |
Power Distance High (‘Authority and power of leaders should be respected’) |
|||||
| Uncertainty Avoidance Low (‘Take changes; bend the rules’) |
Uncertainty Avoidance High (Take no chances; follow the rules’) |
|||||
| Future Orientation Low (‘Live for today; instant gratification.) |
Future Orientation High (‘Think long term; save for the future.) |
|||||
| Performance Orientation Low (‘Loyalty and belonging are what really count’) |
Performance Orientation High (‘Take the initiative; have a sense of urgency about getting results’) |
|||||
| Humane Orientation Low (‘Look out for yourself’) |
Humane Orientation High (‘Help others, especially the weak and vulnerable’) |
|||||
| Masculinity (‘Winning and material wealth are what count’) |
Femininity (‘Relationships and the quality of life are what really matter’) |
Having difficulties at work, take this quiz and see how aware you are of your own business etiquette. Just follow the link above, answer the questions and than follow the link at the bottom of the page to find how your answers compare with that of the creator. Where you close? What are the differences? Could this affect your job performance reviews?
4) What is your Organizations Culture?
Follow the link above and answer the 15 true/false questions and than follow the scoring given. Remember to answer the question about the current culture not the way you wish things to work. Understanding the culture of your organization makes it easier to interact with the organization while also identify sections for managers to work on or change about the their organizations culture.
5) Learn about your assumptions about race.
Follow the link there is plenty of information about race and culture as well as an exercise called Sorting People that not only points out your own preconceptions around race and culture but also explains what your results mean.
References
[1] Advocates For Youth
[2] Distorted Vision: Knowing your own culture in order to know others
[3]Kreitner, R., & Cassidy, C. (2011). Management. Mason, OH. South-Western
Management Tools and Resources 