Teams nowadays are becoming increasingly international and therefore intercultural, especially in workplace and educational institutions. This however, could be a double-edged sword. On one hand, the combination of different perspectives, views and opinions can lead to an enhanced quality of analysis and decision making while team members develop new skills in global awareness and intercultural communication. On the other hand, culture differences can also lead to communication problems, unpredictability, low team cohesion and eventually poor results. Therefore, to what extent can a team make use of its multicultural background is critical to the team’s success.
I observe that when working in a team with teammates from different cultures, it is very possible for one to be overly careful and sensitive on his/her conducts, because s/he may always bare this in mind: never should I cause any misunderstanding or conflict, it will affect the whole team. The intention seems to be undisputable, but the consequence thereafter might be counterproductive.
First of all, apparently we won’t be overly careful and sensitive on our conducts when confronting a culture that we are familiar with. Then since we are not so sure about our teammates’ culture, how can we know what is appropriate and what is offensive in their culture? In this sense, it makes no difference however careful we are.
Moreover, being overly careful and sensitive on conducts is also a barrier that will impede communication between team members from going deeper. It prevents them from behaving as they are and makes them conservative in sharing their ideas. Then at the end of the day, it will seem like the whole team is focusing on avoiding conflict instead of concentrating on its objectives.
Considering the consequences that it will lead to, being overly careful and sensitive on conducts is for sure not an appropriate practice for effective team communicator. Instead of doing so, we should proactively face the problem, try to learn as much of each other’s culture as soon as possible and communicate in a sincere manner. Only in this way will effective intercultural team communication make sense.
I observe that when working in a team with teammates from different cultures, it is very possible for one to be overly careful and sensitive on his/her conducts, because s/he may always bare this in mind: never should I cause any misunderstanding or conflict, it will affect the whole team. The intention seems to be undisputable, but the consequence thereafter might be counterproductive.
First of all, apparently we won’t be overly careful and sensitive on our conducts when confronting a culture that we are familiar with. Then since we are not so sure about our teammates’ culture, how can we know what is appropriate and what is offensive in their culture? In this sense, it makes no difference however careful we are.
Moreover, being overly careful and sensitive on conducts is also a barrier that will impede communication between team members from going deeper. It prevents them from behaving as they are and makes them conservative in sharing their ideas. Then at the end of the day, it will seem like the whole team is focusing on avoiding conflict instead of concentrating on its objectives.
Considering the consequences that it will lead to, being overly careful and sensitive on conducts is for sure not an appropriate practice for effective team communicator. Instead of doing so, we should proactively face the problem, try to learn as much of each other’s culture as soon as possible and communicate in a sincere manner. Only in this way will effective intercultural team communication make sense.
Dear Shiyan,
ReplyDeleteI admire the way u structure your essay. It was well written and it makes sense after I read it through.
Your third paragraph mentioned about our lack of knowledge on other cultures and the difficulty in distinguishing the rights and wrong in each culture. In the Singapore education system, there is a emphasis on understanding the cultures of the major races in Singapore. Students are educated with this since primary school and it is often accompanied with field trips to cultural districts such as Kampong Glam and Little India. This way, students can learn about distinguishing the rights and wrong in the major races in Singapore and prevent conflicts such as the racial riots we have in 1964.
However, I'm still not equipped with the knowledge about certain practice from countries like China, Thailand and Vietnam. This is where your whole essay come true. My focus on avoiding conflicts is limiting my ideas to the team and that is why I was excited being grouped in a diverse team to educate myself more so that I can contribute more.
Regards,
Mohd Ferrino
Dear Shiyan,
ReplyDeleteMy local friends may disagree with me here but in my opinion, many Singaporeans are over-sensitive towards other cultures. I have talked to a few locals about it and they find nothing wrong with it. When they ask me, even I’m not able to articulate how being over-sensitive can be a problem.
I have always looked for an answer to this question and I am glad to read your post, because you answer it very accurately. I love your fourth paragraph where you discuss the problem associated with being over-sensitive. People lose focus and cannot express themselves freely.
I would like to add that there is a thin line between being sensitive and being over-sensitive. Also, this thin line is different for different people. Some people may be sensitive while others may be more understanding when it comes to cultural issues or conflicts.
Apart from that, I find your post excellent. I’m quite excited to have read it because it solves a question that has been troubling me for quite some time.
Have a good day.
Anuj
Dear Shiyan,
ReplyDeleteI have to agree with you that international team may be a double-edged sword. People from different background have different way of thinking and therefore may have different ideas. To solve a certain problem, we have to consider its possible solutions but sometimes, too many solutions can cause team to be confused. Moreover, people from different country may have communication problems which will reduce the efficiency. To be a good team, members should learn international and interpersonal communication.
Lack of knowledge about other cultures makes us over-sensitive which can be a problem. people are scared of offending others so they do not feel confident to express themselves.It is also my problem.
Regards,
Long
Hi Shiyan,
ReplyDeleteI agree that being overcautious about offending teammates from other cultures is definitely not the way to go. When we are overcautious, we have a tendency to hold back ideas in fear of offending someone. However, I do not think we should abandon caution all together either. Doing so would allow us to express ourselves freely, but does the high risk of conflict because of our lack of tact worth it? What I think should be done is to try to maintain a balance between caution and expressing ourselves.
Ferrino has mentioned a very good point about the field trips to cultural districts for junior colleges and secondary schools. Being a Chinese, the last place I expected to enter was a mosque. One of the field trips brought me into a mosque and I really got a look at the Malay culture form the inside.
However, the purpose of these field trips is to promote racial harmony in Singapore. Therefore, it’s only expected that they do not teach us about foreign cultures. We could always do a little search on the internet and read up about the cultures that we are dealing with.
Regards,
Russell