Dubai: In the UAE, a melting pot of diverse nationalities and belief systems, cultural diversity and inclusion have evolved beyond buzzwords. By fostering intercultural competencies, employees feel respected, valued, and empowered, which boosts both professional and personal growth. This, in turn, leads to greater collaboration, better decision-making, and enhanced productivity. When embraced properly, cultural diversity and inclusion not only attract top talent but also strengthen a company’s reputation, offering a competitive edge. For businesses in the Emirates, creating an authentic, culturally inclusive workplace is essential to success.

Understanding How Different Cultures Work in the Office

Understanding the varying cultural approaches to work is crucial for effective collaboration. In diverse teams, communication styles, attitudes toward hierarchy, and problem-solving methods can differ greatly. For example, cultures that prioritise modesty may find it challenging to speak up in meetings, while more assertive cultures may be comfortable voicing their opinions and challenging authority. Implementing inclusive meeting formats, such as round-robin discussions, can help ensure all voices are heard and diverse perspectives are considered.

Moreover, communication isn’t just verbal, it also includes non-verbal cues like body language, eye contact, and gestures, which can vary widely across cultures. Even simple actions, like shaking hands or maintaining physical distance can have different meanings depending on cultural norms. Recognising these differences is key to maintaining positive relationships and avoiding misunderstandings.

Different cultures also hold varying views on punctuality, hierarchy, and working hours. Some prioritise being the first to arrive and last to leave, while others value flexibility, as long as tasks are completed. Acknowledging these differences and fostering open dialogue will help create a harmonious and respectful work environment.

The Role of Unconscious Bias in Cultural Diversity

Unconscious bias plays a significant role in workplace dynamics also. These biases, often deeply ingrained, influence everything from hiring practices to day-to-day interactions. Recognising and addressing unconscious bias is essential to ensuring that all employees are treated equally and given opportunities to succeed.

While organisations typically focus on preventing conscious bias, unconscious bias can be more challenging to identify and eliminate. People are wired to categorise others based on their perceptions, which can influence behavior and expectations in the workplace.

To build stronger intercultural relationships at work, here are eight ways to better navigate personal biases:

  1. Start with Self-Awareness
    Reflect on your own cultural perspectives and understand how your preconceptions may affect your behaviour towards colleagues from diverse backgrounds.
  2. Be Objective
    Recognise that there are multiple ways to approach work. Your preferred methods may be effective in some contexts, but other cultural approaches could offer valuable insights that enhance collaboration and problem-solving.
  3. Adapt to New Circumstances
    Cultural practices are rapidly ever evolving. The ability to adapt quickly to new environments and approaches is crucial in a diverse workplace.
  4. Stay Curious and Ask Questions
    Take an interest in your colleagues’ cultural backgrounds. Asking open-ended questions and listening attentively helps avoid misunderstandings and broadens your perspective.
  5. Practice Empathy
    While it’s hard to fully understand someone else’s perspective, making an effort to empathise with your colleagues can strengthen relationships and foster productive interactions.
  6. Build Personal Relationships
    In many cultures, trust is foundational to effective working relationships. Take the time to get to know your colleagues and be mindful of how your actions may impact them.
  7. Exercise Patience
    Cross-cultural collaboration takes time. Allow relationships and new approaches to develop gradually, which is essential for long-term success.
  8. Cultivate Resilience
    Working in a culturally diverse environment can be challenging. Staying resilient and maintaining a sense of humor can ease difficult moments and improve overall outcomes.

Leading from the Top

For a Intercultural diverse workplace to thrive, inclusivity must be championed at the highest levels. Leaders play a vital role in embedding inclusive behaviors throughout the organisation. When inclusivity is modeled from the top, it becomes a natural part of the company’s culture, creating an environment where all employees can contribute and succeed.

Anne Jackson- Founder & CEO of One Life Coaching ME / Master Life Coach & Psychotherapist.

This article is contributed by Anne Jackson- Founder & CEO of One Life Coaching ME / Master Life Coach & Multi-Cultural Expert.

Anne is an Internationally renowned life coach with more than 14 years of hands-on experience in the UAE, working with a wide variety of clients in both the corporate and personal spheres, across many demographics, to foster psychological, emotional and mental well-being, leading them to greater success, authenticity and joy in life.

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