The secret sauce — How cultural awareness boosts workplace harmony

In this special edition of Reloverse, we bring you insights from guest writer Pia Vosloo, founder of MotherTyper, offering a fresh perspective on how cultural awareness can boost workplace harmony. This series is written in collaboration with our partner, BiCortex Languages.

Did you know that businesses with diverse teams are 35% more likely to perform better than their competitors? According to a McKinsey & Company report, cultural awareness is the secret to success. Understanding and respecting diverse cultures can open new insights and opportunities, allowing individuals from various backgrounds to work harmoniously together. In this edition of Reloverse, we explore what cultural awareness is, why it is essential, how organisations can promote it, and the remarkable benefits it brings.

What is cultural awareness?

Cultural awareness is recognising and understanding the different values, beliefs, and customs of other groups. It involves appreciating diversity, acknowledging your own cultural biases and respecting what others do and think. This fosters communication, reduces misunderstanding and even promotes inclusivity.

Why is cultural awareness important?

Cultural awareness has always been important but the need for it has been rising as businesses enter new markets. It builds bonds with customers, helps you navigate local regulations, and makes managing diverse teams and international operations a whole lot easier. But that is not all.

Here is why it matters

Communication

Cultural awareness allows us to not just communicate but engage effectively on a day-to-day basis with people from diverse cultures, which in turn builds better relationships. Imagine a workplace where communication is seamless and respectful. Productivity increases, and projects get done much faster. Professional translation and localisation services can help businesses achieve that.

Respecting other cultures

By being culturally aware, you can build a better understanding and respect for other’ cultures. People start supporting cultural differences and embracing new and interesting ways to collaborate. Cultural awareness breaks down barriers and engages effectively with diverse communities.

Promoting leadership

Cultural awareness also benefits people in leadership roles. When leaders promote cultural awareness, they often see better results in the workplace. It helps them make appropriate decisions, engage and motivate employees. Leaders can make decisions with differences in mind, which in turn helps employees feel acknowledged and valued in the organisation.

Fostering a diverse work environment

As leaders promote cultural awareness, they also foster a diverse work environment. Nurturing diversity helps those from diverse cultures be included and work equally as a team. This creates a better workplace environment, where employees are valued and work more effectively.

Self-awareness

Being culturally aware can also help us understand our heritage and world views. This benefits us by helping us grasp unique customs and other beliefs. We gain a better understanding of differences in customs and beliefs of others. Exploring and learning about diverse cultures helps us discover new things about ourselves and the world. As such, self-awareness and cultural awareness go hand in hand.

Successful globalisation

As we explore the world, we start to relate to people with diverse cultural backgrounds. As a result, the cultural connection strengthens and reduces the risk of conflicts. When culturally aware, we can consider what may be inappropriate for people from diverse backgrounds. This indirectly helps us globalise more efficiently and reduces barriers.

How can organisations encourage cultural awareness?

According to  Research Gate, organisations benefit from teams with different cultural backgrounds. These teams bring unique talents and great ideas to the table, which enhances their performance. Want to know how you can implement this? Take a look below.

Training

The first and most important task in encouraging cultural awareness in the workplace is to teach employees about what it means. It can be beneficial for a company to design a training program for their employees. The program should teach the employees how to work effectively in the increasingly diverse environment. It should cover topics such as proper communication, marketing, negotiation and other skills.

Policies

Ethics and policies have always been important parts of every organisation. Cultural awareness norms should be created to help ensure employees stay aware. These kinds of norms and policies can help employees from diverse backgrounds interact with one another and encourage respect. Anti-discriminatory policies are put in place to give all employees equal opportunities in the workplace.

Holidays

A great way to promote cultural awareness is by celebrating different cultures. When there are religious and cultural festivals, companies should embrace the holiday.

Cultural holidays

1. Lunar New Year (January or February)
2. Diwali (October or November)
3. Eid al-Fitr (The date varies)
4. Hanukkah (December)
5. Chinese New Year (January to February)
6. Holi (March)
7. Kwanzaa (26 December – 1 January)
8. Christmas (25 December)
9. Vesak (April or May)
10. Rosh Hashanah (September)

Communication

Clear and precise communication has always been important. People from diverse cultural backgrounds have different characteristics and communication styles. Did you know that a firm handshake might be perceived as aggressive in Japan while it is a sign of confidence and respect in America? In Japan, a bow is more appropriate. This is why being culturally aware is important.

Here are some tips to improve cross-cultural communication

• Educate yourself on culture and communication styles.
• Actively listen and ask questions.
• Adapt your approach to different cultures.
• Create a comfortable space for team members to share their perspectives.
• Use language that is easy to understand and avoid jargon and idioms.
• Understand the difference between you and others’ cultures.

Benefits of cultural awareness in education

Teaching cultural awareness in school helps students develop important skills such as empathy, communication and the ability to adapt, which have proven to be valuable in careers.
Here’s a breakdown of the benefits

1. Inclusive curriculum—Integrating cultural awareness into the curriculum helps students understand and appreciate diverse cultures, promoting a more inclusive learning environment. This can include diverse literature, history and cultural studies.
2. Enhances critical thinking—Exposure to diverse cultural views encourages students to think critically and question their assumptions, which can lead to deeper cultural awareness.
3. Promotes empathy and respect—Cultural awareness education promotes empathy and respect for others, reducing prejudice and promoting social harmony among students from diverse backgrounds.
4. Global competence—Culturally aware students are better prepared to engage in a globalised world. They can navigate cross-cultural interactions with sensitivity and understanding.
5. Encourages collaboration—Cultural awareness in education encourages collaborative learning, where students from diverse backgrounds share unique perspectives and ideas.

Conclusion

Cultural awareness really is the secret sauce, as it encourages effective communication and promotes a productive and inclusive workplace. Every business should raise cultural awareness by providing training, implementing policies, celebrating holidays and actively improving communication.

There are a few different ways to improve communication, which include education, listening, asking questions, adapting one’s approach, creating a space for open conversation, using language that is easy to understand and acknowledging differences. This enhances teamwork, strengthens relationships and builds a harmonious work environment. Here is to your business’ success.

Global Mobility, culturally informed

As you navigate the complexities of global relocation, cultural awareness becomes your strategic asset. At Santa Fe, we understand the nuances of intercultural transitions and are dedicated to smoothing your journey in every aspect. Whether you are relocating a team or setting up operations across borders, we provide expert guidance infused with cultural insights. Reach out to us at reloverse@santaferelo.com for a relocation experience that respects and embraces cultural diversity.

A note from the Reloverse team

We believe in fostering inclusivity and collaboration with diverse voices. In this edition of our Reloverse series, we’re thrilled to feature a guest post by Pia Vosloo, founder of MotherTyper, a digital marketing and content-writing company that embodies the values we hold dear. Pia’s unique perspective, shaped by her global team of writers from various backgrounds, aligns perfectly with our mission to support diverse talent and promote cultural awareness. Partnering with Pia and her team reflects our commitment to a more inclusive and responsible business world.

Guest author biography

Pia Vosloo is the owner of the leading digital marketing and content writing company, MotherTyper. Her skill sets include degrees/certificates in beauty, psychology, business, and writing! MotherTyper has writers from all over the world with different races, genders, and backgrounds, ensuring the perfect piece is written, researched, and presented to you!

Partner profile

BiCortex Languages is a leading global language provider operating worldwide. We partner with our customers to deliver expertly handled language services for expatriates and relocating families. BiCortex does this by providing language training to thousands of students every year. BiCortex’s success and reputation come from several critical features and areas of expertise that distinguish it from the competition.