Your personal development: collaborative working in multicultural environments

Increasingly we find ourselves in multicultural environments.

This involves collaborative working and the ability to understand difference. Britain has a highly diverse culture that has evolved from generations of immigrants, and yet with a strong foundation of some common, distinctive values. 

Culture is difficult to define. It normally reflects the backgrounds, traditions, customs, behaviours and personalities of those involved. It can often, however, simply be summed up with the phrase, 'that's how we do things around here'. 

So, to speak of a national culture is probably unhelpful as there remains a strong debate about what we mean by Britishness - different people will define it in different ways. And different groups and collectives will have their own cultures that will contrast with each other.

Therefore it's probably better to have a set of principles and approaches that help you get to know and understand different cultures in different places. Here are a few tips on how to study effectively in a diverse environment:

• Diversity may be the collective noun, but inclusivity is the definitive action. Engaging all of the people all of the time, might seem impossible, but it's a great aspiration and a useful place to start. 
• Use insight to separate facts from interpretation and overcome prejudice. Notice and challenge your assumptions about people. 
• One key technique is that of curiosity. Just as prejudice (pre-judging) can kill opportunities and ruin relationships, curiosity does the opposite - it opens up possibilities. By genuinely trying to understand and investigate people of a different culture you help make a connection. 
• Really try and see beyond what is obvious. Think about what's going on 'under the surface'. Ask questions to clarify and identify what other meaning there might be. 
• Speak as slowly and clearly as possible. Learn to speak international (or 'business') English - it helps understanding. 
• Develop your emotional and social intelligence so that you can empathise with people. That means having a heart as well as a head connection with them. 
• Don't assume that there is only one culture to understand. Each department, campus, community, area, region etc. will have its own culture - try to identify what makes them distinctive. Understanding and characterising someone's culture can be useful and enjoyable. 
• Variety is, indeed, the spice of life, for the one thing that unites us is our difference. As Martin Luther King said, "Inclusivity. This wonderful paradox of diverse individuality with the common thread of humanity." So, let's join together to celebrate diversity! 

This article has been provided by Maynard Leigh Associates. Maynard Leigh Associates is a UK consultancy specialising in enhancing communication skills and building interpersonal relationships. In collaboration with Maynard Leigh, this article has been provided as part of short series to provide a clearer understanding of communicating effectively across cultures and building positive relationships with new people.

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