Leadership in a cross-cultural environment means understanding and motivating a culturally diverse team to come together through a shared sense of purpose, which moves the team closer to the company\u2019s goals and vision for the future.<\/p>\n
By definition, leaders are individuals who inspire, encourage, and empower their teams to move positively forward. They not only provide the necessary resources to have their team do their job effectively but also encourage them individually to step into their unique abilities so that they can perform at their best. Leaders also have the capability to foster a collaborative work environment that steadily produces efficient results.<\/p>\n
The challenge now with a largely remote, globalized workforce is to preserve this type of effective teamwork while also leading a team from multiple time zones and different cultural backgrounds. According to Maryville University, Technavio<\/a> reports that the global market for cross-cultural training services is expected to expand by $1.2 billion between the years 2020-2024, which is driven primarily by companies\u2019 growing emphasis on cultural awareness and new opportunities created by COVID-19.<\/p>\n As the talent pool continues to boast a diverse group of experienced professionals from across the globe, leaders must evolve alongside their multicultural workforce and create a work environment that is both inclusive and also supports a true sense of belonging. Leading a cross-cultural team can create advantages that help make a huge impact on the company.<\/p>\n Successful leaders understand that one of the top benefits employees actively seek is flexibility. In order to foster a positive work environment<\/a> that optimally performs, it\u2019s important to keep this top of mind as it creates a culture of trust and loyalty when employees feel their time and efforts are valued and appreciated. This is more important now than ever as the workforce evolves into a virtual capacity composed of a globalized team. However, when a team is led successfully despite the barriers, there are a number of benefits:<\/p>\n A cross-cultural team can yield so many benefits for the company by bringing in fresh perspectives, new ideas, and inspiration for more inspired creativity, all of which help cultivate a positive work environment.<\/p>\n Of course, having a multicultural environment is not without its complexities. Common expressions that we normally don\u2019t think twice about in everyday life can be easily misinterpreted by others from different cultures, especially in the absence of context. Working in an exclusively remote capacity exacerbates miscommunication in virtual teams.<\/p>\n For example, in a talk given at a TEDx event in Barcelona by Ricardo Fernandez, he outlined some of the challenges he experienced as a leader of teams located in multiple countries and the communication challenges that arose internally. One notable story involves a routine conference call with his team in South Africa. By the end of their meeting, one of his team members relays that he would call Ricardo \u201cjust now.\u201d<\/p>\n Ricardo ended the team call and waited. And continued waiting until, after 15 minutes, he sent a message asking if they were going to speak soon as he was under the impression they were going to speak shortly after the meeting. His team member responded, repeating what he had said and sending an image of how South Africans define some expressions of time. Fernandez had thought that they were going to speak in a matter of minutes, while his team member explained that they would talk in the near future, but not necessarily right at that moment. Fernandez was astounded that something as simple as expressions of time led to a misunderstanding. Fernandez also noted that while he was glad the miscommunication happened internally — allowing him an opportunity to digest the difference in expression — he considered that this may have not gone as well if it had happened in a meeting with a client.<\/p>\n This was an instance of the difference in forms of expression. Here are some other common cross-cultural misunderstandings that are common in work environments:<\/p>\n There are many challenges being a leader in a cross-cultural environment, but there are ways that allow you to continue developing the appropriate skills, awareness, and effective communication styles, which help enable your diverse team to thrive.<\/p>\n Leadership in a cross-cultural environment is all about learning how to improve upon your current leadership style and expanding your knowledge on the different cultures that make up your team. It\u2019s about taking a step back, carefully examining and understanding any \u201cmistakes” or miscommunication that may have happened, and leaning into your motivation to grow your skills as an exceptional leader. Let\u2019s talk about how you can add to your leadership tool belt and improve how you lead a cross-cultural group:<\/p>\n One of the biggest challenges for managers is accepting that not everyone will be onboard with your natural leadership style. What you may think is working with the team overall might actually be stalling their productivity. For example, what you may consider as being supportive by instructing the employee on how to exactly respond to an issue, may in fact come across as micromanaging. If done often enough — where a manager consistently steps into a situation that the employee should be able to handle– the result will be the employee no longer feeling empowered to give you their creativity. Conversely, if you\u2019re too hands off, the employee may feel that they cannot rely on you as a source of support. Being open and flexible with your leadership in a cross-cultural environment will help you adapt to the different work styles on your team, which will make it easier to discover what may or may not be working.<\/p>\n Providing context is key. When making an announcement, updating the team, or giving out recognition, try to be as clear as possible with your communication. Be focused and keep things simple. Avoid using too much slang, colloquialisms, or idioms that could lead to confusion. No matter how well-meaning the messaging was intended to be, if there isn\u2019t any proper context, it could possibly offend some of the individuals on your team or leave them confused about the message you were trying to deliver. Your audience may understand the words on a surface level, but not the meaning behind them. In Fernandez’s TedX talk, he gave an example of this very scenario happening during a project launch with his team in India. Because the project had gone so well, he thought it would be beneficial for his team to give them the praise they deserved for the overall success. In one of their weekly calls, he recognized one of his colleagues and said, \u201cYou\u2019re killing it out there!\u201d<\/p>\n Now for those who are familiar with this phrase and hear it quite frequently, we wouldn\u2019t think twice. This is in reference to a job well done. For Fernandez, he elicited the exact opposite response. His Indian colleague contacted him the next day and asked him. \u201cWhat did I do wrong? What can I do to improve?\u201d Fernandez was completely surprised by this reaction. He thought he was providing positive feedback that would make his colleague feel appreciated for his hard work. Instead, the phrase was interpreted in a completely different way. Same words, different meanings. According to Fernandez, the lack of context created this misunderstanding.<\/p>\n During any interpersonal conflict within the team, it\u2019s the job of any leader to remain a neutral third-party. Reserve any judgments, and don\u2019t openly take sides. Especially in diverse teams, make sure to ask questions, particularly when you\u2019re unclear. Listen, repeat back your understanding of what the person has said, and confirm if your summary was accurate. This is how you utilize active listening effectively and avoid misunderstandings when it comes time to create a solution.<\/p>\n Be open to discovering and pursuing training that the whole team can participate in. Focus on development that strengthens communication and team-building. Also search for opportunities that are tailored specifically towards managers and building leadership qualities. This will help you address and resolve team issues in an effective manner as well as work on your own communication style and management, fostering your growth as a team leader. You\u2019ll find that developing leadership skills requires you to think differently, leaning heavily towards strategic decision-making, thoughtful approaches to conflict, and an enhanced awareness of the people that make up your team.<\/p>\n In a multicultural team, awareness of the various holidays or customs that occur throughout the year is essential to being a culturally competent leader. It takes more than having the knowledge of different cultures. Leaders must work to practice genuine understanding and empathy across the different cultures that make up the team and be thoughtful and flexible enough to adapt to varying expectations.<\/p>\n If you prioritize creating a positive work environment<\/a> built from trust, respect, and support, you\u2019re building a culture of psychological safety. Your employees will feel comfortable coming to you if there are any issues within the team or if they need more clarity on assignment without fear of punishment. In a multicultural environment, you want to foster this kind of trust and sense of community in order to have the most successful outcomes. The hallmark of a culturally competent leader is the ability to bring together people with different backgrounds, motivations, experiences, and ways of thinking and guide them towards a common goal.<\/p>\n One of the most insightful ways to gain feedback on your management style is to host regular individual check-ins with your team. Ask for feedback on their needs, what you could do better, and what kind of support is needed from you in order to be at their most successful. This is the chance to open the communication channels, get on the same page, and clear up any misunderstandings. Incorporating a QR Code<\/a> into your check-in process can streamline feedback collection by directing team members to online surveys or feedback forms.<\/p>\n Just remember that when asking for feedback, be open to their comments or suggestions. It\u2019s not always easy to hear criticism, even if it is constructive in nature. This is also an opportunity to get to know your employee on a more personal level, which may help them feel more comfortable with you. If they feel genuinely valued and cared for, your employee may be willing to share honest feedback, rather than share vague or superficial comments. Effective leaders should be able to consistently assess themselves in order to make timely improvements.<\/p>\n Being a successful leader in a cross-cultural environment takes time and patience. To be able to see the whole picture and nurture each employee\u2019s professional growth while building mutual respect amongst different cultures is no easy feat. It\u2019s a nuanced practice that stretches your skills and refines them.<\/p>\n Think about it this way. Let\u2019s say you have an employee from a different country who is learning how to speak English. When you have conversations with your employee, it may be difficult at first to understand what they\u2019re saying. You may even be frustrated by the difficulties involved with communication and the misunderstandings that are created because of the language barrier. It can begin to feel like it may not be a good fit. This is where persistence and compassion for each other comes in. Leaders need to build strong bridges for their employees, support them, and practice patience. In some cases, they may even need a little extra support from a third party so that they can both improve on their communication differences.<\/p>\n While it may feel easier to replace the employee, you risk losing a potentially competent and productive team member. Persistence, patience, and compassion is the key to fostering an employee\u2019s growth, especially if they\u2019re from a different country. If leaders can\u2019t adapt to the increasingly diverse market, it\u2019ll be extremely hard — and costly — to grow the team, retain high performers, and meet the company\u2019s overall goals.<\/p>\n Effective cross-cultural leadership ensures that everyone on the team feels comfortable. To help build their confidence and trust in you, show them respect, encourage them to step into their abilities, be humble, kind, and open as there is always something new to learn in a cross-cultural environment. If your employees know that their leader is actively working to understand and appreciate cultural differences, the more likely they are to feel safe and respect you in turn.<\/p>\n One of the most important traits of cross-cultural leadership is being genuinely curious about other cultures that are vastly different from your own. You must be willing to respect and acknowledge that other cultures have their own unique way of working that adds an extra layer of complexity to communication and overall work output. In an Inc. article written by Beth Fisher-Yoshida, she talks at length about how cultural misunderstandings can negatively impact global deals. For example, Yoshida noted that the Japanese have a \u201crelationship-focused culture.\u201d In order to close a deal in Japan<\/a>, your Japanese colleagues must feel comfortable with you in order to develop trust and respect. Without an intense curiosity for their culture and ability to adapt to this type of approach to business, there are many opportunities for miscommunication and loss of productivity.<\/p>\n Being a leader in a cross-cultural environment can help you grow both professionally and personally. While you may face unique challenges, leaders and managers can take the necessary steps to ensure that their team remains highly motivated, inspired, and encouraged to meet the company\u2019s goals and bottom-line. Afterall, these are the hallmark traits of a successful leader.<\/p>\n To develop cross-cultural leadership skills that embrace the different ethnicities, religions, races, and cultures, you need a strong sense of persistence, curiosity, and willingness to understand different perspectives. It\u2019s about self-awareness and self-understanding about some of our own biases in the workplace, and the work that we pour into changing how we view differences.<\/p>\n You can create a true sense of belonging in your team by being open-minded while allowing your team to thrive in a safe and inclusive space.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The importance of strong leadership in cross-cultural environments has never been higher as the COVID-19 pandemic has virtually redefined how and where we work. With top talent being seriously considered for job opportunities regardless of geography, leaders are recognizing the essential need to adapt and manage an increasingly diverse and global team. Being an effective … <\/p>\n![\"Benefits](\"https:\/\/www.teamly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/Benefits-of-Leading-a-Cross-Cultural-Team.png\")
<\/p>\n<\/span>The Benefits of Leading a Cross-Cultural Team<\/span><\/h2>\n
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![\"Greater](\"https:\/\/www.teamly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/Greater-innovation.png\")
<\/p>\n\n
![\"Challenges](\"https:\/\/www.teamly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/Challenges-of-Leadership-in-Cross-Cultural-Environments.png\")
<\/p>\n<\/span>The Challenges of Leadership in Cross-Cultural Environments<\/span><\/h2>\n
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![\"Become](\"https:\/\/www.teamly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/Become-a-Cross-Cultural-Leader.png\")
<\/p>\n<\/span>How To Become a Cross-Cultural Leader<\/span><\/h2>\n
Be open and flexible with your leadership style<\/strong><\/h4>\n
Communicate clearly<\/strong><\/h4>\n
![\"Remain](\"https:\/\/www.teamly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/Remain-a-neutral-party-during-conflicts.png\")
<\/p>\nRemain a neutral party during conflicts<\/h4>\n
Take advantage of training<\/h4>\n
Be accommodating of different cultural customs<\/h4>\n
Foster a positive work environment<\/h4>\n
Regularly ask for feedback<\/h4>\n
![\"Regularly](\"https:\/\/www.teamly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/Regularly-ask-for-feedback.png\")
<\/p>\nPractice patience and persistence<\/h4>\n
Treat everyone with respect<\/h4>\n
Be curious and adapt<\/h4>\n
![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.teamly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/The-Importance-of-Leadership-in-a-Cross-Cultural-Environment.png\")
<\/p>\n<\/span>The Importance of Leadership in a Cross-Cultural Environment<\/span><\/h2>\n