Which strategy should you use to communicate effectively with culturally diverse patients?
Communicating effectively across cultural divides can be a challenge for organizations. The key is to bring the communication back to basics and establish a baseline where a common understanding exists. Here are our tips for keeping the lines of communication open in a multicultural workplace. Show
Top tips for establishing effective cross-cultural communicationsIn today's society, most workplaces will be populated with employees from different countries and cultures. And while language barriers can often be the most obvious stumbling block to effective communication in this environment, it's important not to dismiss the existence of cultural differences and the impact they can have on a productive workplace. In fact, a 2016 Culture Wizard global survey revealed that 68% of respondents reported that cultural challenges were the biggest hurdle to global virtual team productivity and 18% of respondents said that their companies have lost business opportunities because of cultural misunderstandings. So what tactics should you use to ensure all relevant parties share a common understanding? Practice active listeningActive listening is a vital step in developing successful cross-cultural communication in the workplace. By actively listening to the speaker you can establish trust and build a relationship as they know you are really listening to what they are saying.
The goal is to leave the conversation with no misunderstanding on either side: you have understood what has been said, and the speaker is confident you have understood them. Be an effective communicatorAs well as demonstrating active listening, you need to hone your communication skills.
Maintain etiquetteIn every culture, there exists certain forms of etiquette around the way people communicate, some more formal than others. If time allows, it can be beneficial to carry out some research on the culture in question and to get a good understanding of what is expected of you when engaging with an individual from this culture. An example of this is being conscious of not jumping into first name terms with an individual unless they make it clear it is okay to do so, as many cultures have a degree of formality in regards to the opening of conversations: ‘Herr’ and ‘Frau’ in Germany, reversing family and given names in China and the use of ‘san’ in Japan for men and women, etc. Keep it simpleWhen it comes to cross-cultural conversations it's much easier to keep things straightforward and simple. There is no need to use overly complicated dialogue or big words as this will just make it harder for both parties. Bear in mind, two-syllable words are much easier to understand than three-syllable words. One-syllable words are even better again. Always be conscious to give orders or make statements in the simplest possible format despite how you would normally phrase the sentence. Avoid slangIndividuals from other cultures who have obtained fluency in English will still often struggle with the language's slang, sayings, and idioms. Even if the person understands the words that have just been said, they will struggle with the context of the meaning, adding to their confusion. This is why it makes sense to leave such phrases out of cross-cultural conversations as a general rule. Understand the culture, (sub)culture, and creedRespecting differences in the workplace, even differences in appearance can be challenging across the generational divide, yet it's an area you must start to embrace in today's ever-evolving society. As long as employees are professional and presentable, then the focus should be solely on their work and contribution to the business itself. Their appearance is not the thing that matters. Employees from any culture who are valued and feel good about themselves will work harder, smarter, and better. Barriers to cross-cultural communicationEthnocentrismEthnocentrism is the belief that one's own cultural group is somehow innately superior to others. This negative mindset of establishing cultural superiority can create serious clashes in the workspace. It becomes easy for people to negatively judge those whose world views do not align with their own and the situation can quickly escalate to an ‘us versus them’ scenario. Being culturally sensitive and keeping an open mind is essential to ensure pleasant interactions among colleagues. Learning to effectively manage ethnocentric beliefs will lead toward a better working environment for all. StereotypingStereotyping occurs when individuals are unable or unwilling to obtain all of the information they need in order to make fair judgments about people or situations. In the workplace, this can present itself when co-workers from different cultural backgrounds feed into clichés about each other without taking the time to get to know one another personally. Few would deny they have a mental picture of national behavior, however, it’s necessary people are prepared to suspend these oversimplified beliefs as every person is unique and it makes no sense to judge an individual solely on their culture or nationality. Language BarriersLanguage barriers can have a significant impact on business operations, particularly when some members of a team are not as fluent in a certain language as the others. In global teams, people who are less fluent in English tend to withdraw from communication, leading to a loss of input. Thankfully, there are ways to combat these issues, and measures such as speaking at a slower pace and avoiding colloquial phrases or idioms can help. Language barriers can also present themselves in the workplace when two employees with equally bad communication skills try to have a discussion but struggle to understand each other's intended meaning. Conditions such as dyslexia, which impacts an individual’s ability to read and understand words and symbols, is also classed as a language barrier Conflicting valuesIn today's global work environment, it's a given that companies need culturally diverse teams to succeed. However, with such diverse teams, intercultural conflicts are almost unavoidable. Cultural clashes happen when one person’s behavior compromises that of someone else’s values and beliefs. Awareness of our own cultural biases and assumptions can go a long way toward improving relations in multicultural situations. At the end of the day, there is no right or wrong way of doing things; it’s just a matter of cultural norms. Other tips:
Key takeawayIn the modern workplace, individuals from a wide range of diverse backgrounds and cultures work side by side. To communicate in such culturally diverse environments, it’s important for business professionals to develop cultural intelligence. Cross-cultural communication creates a network and helps businesses establish a strong chain both internally and externally. Building cross-cultural communication in the workplace can be a challenge, but creating an environment where the team feels listened to, respected, and understood can be rewarding, and importantly, could lead to improved productivity and staff retention. Furthermore, as organizations continue to expand globally, having effective cross-cultural communication in place makes these expansions into worldwide markets run more smoothly. What are the strategies in communicating across culture?Allow for correction and adjustment of message: Create a comfortable environment. Ask questions, and listen intently to responses. Develop empathy: Understand and appreciate the worldview of others. Treat others as you want to be treated.
What are 4 strategies that support cultural competence?How do I become culturally competent?. Learn about yourself. Get started by exploring your own historical roots, beliefs and values, says Robert C. ... . Learn about different cultures. ... . Interact with diverse groups. ... . Attend diversity-focused conferences. ... . Lobby your department.. What are the strategies for dealing with cultural differences?How to Manage a Multicultural Team. Overcome Language and Cultural Barriers. ... . Consider Different Cultural Communication Styles. ... . Plan Projects Around Different Time Zones. ... . Allow Prep Time Whenever Your Team Needs It. ... . Be Open to All Cultures and Their Differences. ... . Organize a Cross-Cultural Training. ... . Avoid Stereotypes.. How do you care for a culturally diverse patient?WHAT IS CULTURAL COMPETENCE IN HEALTH CARE?. Provide interpreter services.. Recruit and retain minority staff.. Provide training to increase cultural awareness, knowledge, and skills.. Coordinate with traditional healers.. Use community health workers.. Incorporate culture-specific attitudes and values into health promotion tools.. |