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When we focus on the strengths of others, we build trust and respect!

Everyone is an individual. In the workplace today, you will find people from different cultures, who think differently, have different values and rituals. In the United States, as with many countries around the world, an array of languages are spoken.

People from all over the world move to other countries to better their lives; therefore, culture shock is not uncommon. Many new immigrants find it difficult to adjust and connect with the new ways and let go of the old. People who are raised in different cultures are proud of their national heritage and go to great lengths to protect who they are, and that’s a good thing. They draw a sense of emotional security from their frames of reference–how they were raised.

Fostering the Value of Understanding

It is tolerance and understanding of differences that allow different cultures, religions, genders, and opinions to work together in harmony. By choosing to foster tolerance and understanding, you multiply the potential to find different and new solutions to everyday problems. Fostering tolerance and understanding leads to focusing on the strengths of one another, which in turn builds trust and respect–the basis of all good relationships. For all nationalities, a good attitude is more acceptable because it can contribute to faster assimilation, connection, and personal security.

Fostering understanding will also open the door to similarities. People are people, and good interpersonal communication is appreciated around the world. We are similar in many ways–we all want to be respected, we all want to maintain our dignity, we all prefer positive communication. Observing different cultural rituals and demonstrating the willingness to build a bridge of communication, cooperation, and collaboration will, without a doubt, create reciprocal behavior.

10 Tips for Fostering Understanding

1 Look for ways to connect and Synergize. “It’s you and me against the problem, not you and me against each other.”

2 Be aware: Observe different cultures and foster understanding by sharing your differences and similarities.

3 Be careful not to overpower people by intimidating them with size, voice, and personal space.

4 Slow down, talk less, and listen actively.

5 Be sensitive to gender differences.

6 Criticize actions–not people, genders, or cultures.

7 Avoid power plays, stereotyping, sexual comments, and personal innuendoes and jokes.

8 Be polite, courteous, and respectful.

9 Smile and relax while communicating.

10 Be inclusive, ask questions, and invite opinions.

A person who doesn’t stand for something will fall for anything.