International trade agreements, overseas operations and global financial systems have an effect on our business and national economy, and the dynamics of social change influence the makeup of the local workforce. All of these factors are demanding a shift in our management practices. The need to communicate clearly across different languages and cultures has become critical. Our increased exposure to other cultures requires us to manage accurate bilingual communication and promote an understanding and respect of foreign cultures, languages and business practices.
We can no longer afford to compromise the success of our business due to mistakes generated by erroneous communication, misunderstandings, and cultural misconceptions. Business performance can be optimized by valuing cultural diversity and bilingual communication as a business asset, and therefore, improving productivity, sales and profit margins. As a management resource, effective multicultural integration will reduce the liability of diversity challenges, business and safety operations.
The enclosed article sets forth a number of intercultural variables that are frequently present in the workplace. Its objective is to make cross-cultural business performance more efficient, aligning corporate objectives with cross-cultural interaction. As such, emphasis has been placed on several topics, for instance, differences in communication context, cultural values and, learning styles. It is not my intention to stereotype any culture, nor to perpetuate cultural misconceptions, or to indicate contempt for any culture; rather, to emphasize the importance of a clear understanding of the variables that influence communication, decision making and behaviors in multicultural environments. For it is through our knowledge and understanding that we can improve our interaction and working relationships for the betterment of all.
Basically our conversation started by commenting "Why do Hispanic / Spanish speaking workers suffer more work accidents than the American / English speaking workers?" – In fact, the rate of fatal work accidents for Hispanic workers has increased by 72% from 1992 with 533 fatalities to 917 in 20052 – "We think, they continued saying, that it has much to do with communicating properly in Spanish".
As I reflected on their comments, my memories took me back to my personal experience on living, studying and working in both countries, and the different aspects that influenced my decision-making, action and behaviors. It is through this experience that I offer you Bridging Cultural Differences, as an integrated approach to cultural diversity in the workplace. Understanding that it is not only bilingual communication that marks the difference, but culture, work conditions, literacy levels and training methods that also weigh heavily in what can be identified as the "Cross-cultural Workplace".
What do you understand by Culture? Is it an attitude, is it what guides our understanding and explains how we relate to each other? Does it define our perceptions and our assumptions? In general terms, it is all that and more, because what we see in our interaction with other people are Actions and Behaviors, which are the end result of our cultural conditioning.
