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Holidays can open doors to understanding different cultures

Ten Ways You Can Use Cultural Holidays to Open Doors of Engagement

For many of us Christmas has come to represent a universal holiday. We assume everyone celebrates Christmas, go on a buying spree and spread good cheer to one and all.  The world has changed slightly and there are many in our midst that do not celebrate Christmas. In fact they may have never heard about Christmas in the way we celebrate and make such a big fuss out of Santa Claus.  Workplace are being super sensitive by expressing the season in a more generic fashion.  However if you are a Christian, instead of fearing to say the word Christmas or to express any sentiments about the holiday here are some of the ways you can use the holiday to open doors of friendship and understanding:

1)  Seek first to understand something about the person, ask them if they celebrate Christmas and then go on to explain some of your family traditions around the season

2)  If the person is not a Christian and does not celebrate the season, you can still offer hospitality by inviting them to your Christmas dinner to a holiday open house if you have such a thing;

3)  Explain the difference between Santa Claus and Jesus Christ.  Santa Claus gives all good girls and boys gifts whether you are Christian or not, perhaps they might want their children to have a visit with Santa

4)  Be curious, ask them how they celebrate important holidays and the foods they eat and the traditions surrounding such event.

5)  Show genuine interest in their custom and perhaps express an interest to witness such an event – this might garner you an invitation to their home during their important holiday.  In this way you create new understanding and friendship with someone from a different cultural background.

6)   To be inclusive instead of workplace Christmas Party, the event can be called End of Year get together either at a restaurant or potluck.  With potluck everyone gets to bring in something cultural and the event engages everyone and workers get to sample different kinds of foods and drinks.

7)    Since holidays are about family, employees can be encouraged to decorate a tree with family pictures and lights and maps of the various parts of the world from where staff originates.

8)  In terms of spirits there is already inclusion – wine from France, Spain, Chile, South Africa, rum from the Caribbean, add a couple more – from other parts of the world. Be sure to include nonalcoholic beverages as well as some religions forbid its adherents to drink alcohol.

9)  Encourage people to come in clothes commonly wear in their countries of origin

10) Cultural Dances is always a big hit. Use it.

 

The Iceberg Principle

The example of an iceberg shows the need to see under people's surface behaviour; the need of a deeper insight. Only 10% of an iceberg is visible on the surface, 90% is under the waterline, invisible, but yet prominent. If there is a wind coming from left to right, just by seeing the visible mass, we think it will move the iceberg to towards the right. If, against all expectations, the iceberg moves in the opposite direction (left), it is because, under the waterline, there is a strong current running towards the left.

Sometimes you, as a leader, try to move people in a certain direction by giving them orders, instructions, explanations and encouragement, but you do it on the basis of what you see above the surface. The visible part represents what is at the surface such as appearance, behaviour, manners etc. You do not see what moves them under the surface so you become surprised and maybe frustrated seeing them move in the opposite direction. The main part, which is the 90% not visible, is within the subconscious. Under the surface (subconscious) you will find emotions, fears, attitudes, deeply held values etc.

If you want to move people, if you want to motivate others for a project or even just to reach others, you need to be aware of these kinds of things that you find under the surface. The key to understanding others better is to be more aware of your own feelings and under-currents, because, at a deep level, we are very much alike.

If you understand your own fears and strong motivators, you will understand others much better.

 

www.brahmakumaris.com

 

Being culturally sensitive is everyone's business

Being culturally competent in the workplace is not only the manager’s responsibility. It is every employee’s responsibility to increase their cultural sensitivity.   Being culturally sensitive does not refer to minority cultures but also to the mainstream culture as well. It has to be a two-way street.

 

   There are some who believe their Blackness or  minority status gives them license to be disrespectful to their white colleagues by using  racist epithets at the drop of a hat. This attitude does not bode well for congenial office relationships. 

 

    An employee can no longer operate on the fly in the workplace. Every word a person utters must be spoken consciously.  There is an old adage that goes like this:  sticks and stones may break my bones but words never hurt me – who ever wrote these lines perhaps had never been stung by words.  Words are mightier, weightier and can deliver a far heavier blow than sticks and stones. The hurt from sticks and stones eases after a while but hurtful words live with us like a constant companion throughout our lives.

 

    When we are in the workplace, it is each employee’s duty to respect each other’s human rights.  This is law in most developed countries.  However, you can respect a person’s human rights and still disrespect the person’s basic rights as a human being.

 

We need to go beyond the law and to do the right thing. We need to develop a culture of respect amongst all employees through clear and simple policies which must be posted in visible places for everyone to see.

    The boss must also lead by example.   It is not a crime to acknowledge ignorance. If you do not know something about a person’s culture, ask questions. People generally love the opportunity to speak about their cultures; their eyes light up, their faces glow and there is certain esteem knowing that you are interested in them and their culture.

 

    One of the ways to build a culture of respect in the workplace is to designate a person to organize cultural days starting with the cultures that are part of the workplace. Bring in a speaker, have local group cook specific foods from the cultures and celebrate the diversity in the workplace. This action will go a long way towards creating a respectful and culturally sensitive work environment.