5 Ways To Overcome Cultural Barriers at Work

The term Global Village was used in the late 1960s as a creative way to describe how the world is becoming more and more connected. It feels like all the countries are under one roof or that we all live two blocks away from each other.

The process of focal, cultural, and economic globalization has never been more intense and pervasive than it is now. This interesting phenomenon has naturally affected the workplace, making it more diverse and creating new opportunities. On the other hand, it has also introduced challenges that the world of human resource management hasn't experienced before, such as cultural barriers.

It would not be wrong to say that it is now more common for people of very different origins and cultures to work together. This cultural diversity has benefited many companies, where, according to McKinsey research, companies that have more ethnic and racial diversity are 35% more likely to have financial returns above their national industry median. Similarly, these companies generate 19% more innovation revenue. However, the challenges cultural diversity brings should be handled wisely to utilise its full potential within a workplace. This article will list 5 ways to overcome cultural diversity effectively.

1. Embrace Diversity And Accommodate Cultural Differences

Firstly, you need to make your organization and workforce understand and acknowledge the importance of cultural diversity for a productive and successful business. Make them thoroughly understand that culturally diverse teams are more innovative and creative than homogeneous groups.

This will set the base for promoting an organizational culture that embraces and appreciates diversity. It will also give more room for open discussion and create a support system rather than barriers.

Remember, you want your team to work well at their potential because of the differences they bring in. One of the best ways to overcome cultural barriers is to create enough opportunities for your employees to learn about their team members and colleagues, their perspectives, and ways of life to build open-mindedness and appreciation.

Observe and analyse the strengths each culture brings to the team and discuss how they can be integrated into the workplace and team to boost productivity, growth, and success in the organisation.

2. Encourage Open Communication and Dialogue

Your strategies on the 5 ways to overcome cultural barriers should inevitably include open communication and dialogue. Doing this is very important to bridge the cultural divide within human resource management. When employees have an organizational culture that allows them to express themselves, it is easy to address misunderstandings resulting from cultural differences and resolve such conflicts effectively without letting them take a toll on productivity.

Make sure you are providing enough platforms for sharing experiences, perspectives, and concerns through team meetings, diversity forums, and cross-cultural buddy systems. These HR systems in the workplace can promote open interactions and collaborations coming from different cultural backgrounds, facilitating the exchange of ideas and fostering mutual respect.

Regular and instant communication channels allow the exchange of transparent and timely information, making sure everyone in the workplace is heard and valued. Open dialogues also create a sense of unity and togetherness, promoting a culture of inclusivity and understanding where diverse voices are celebrated and appreciated.

3. Establish Clear Cultural Integration Policies

Establishing clear and strict cultural integration policies is one of the best 5 ways to overcome cultural barriers at work and is crucial in fostering diversity and inclusion. These policies act as a guideline and ethical code for respectful behaviour and inclusive language and are culturally sensitive, assuring that all employees feel heard, seen, and understood and adhere to the expectations of a productive workplace.

Alongside this, human resource management initiatives should also develop frameworks to outline the organization's commitment to embracing cultural diversity. Having formal policies that acknowledge cultural differences reflects the dedication a workplace has towards an inclusive environment where employees feel valued and respected, regardless of their cultural backgrounds.

Have properly designed mentorship programs that facilitate knowledge sharing and support from employees coming from different backgrounds. These human resource management initiatives not only promote cross-cultural understanding but also employee satisfaction, engagement, and retention, leading to increased productivity and organisational success.

4. Rally The Team Around A Shared Vision Or Common Cause

If there is one thing that unites a culturally diverse workplace, it has to be the end goal or vision of your organisation or a relevant team. Having a common goal motivates all members to pull together in the same direction.

It sets a roadmap for a culturally diverse team or workplace to stay on track and not deviate based on cultural differences. In other words, it says the employees must accept one another, embrace diversity, and work together towards the end goal.

Even in the case of disputes or conflicts due to differences, they all have an anchor that keeps them together, persuading them to resolve any misunderstanding and keep moving towards the intended destination.

Having goals, vision, and common causes is one of the best 5 ways to overcome cultural barriers, as it gives employees and human resource management initiatives to look beyond handling differences- instead, it gives them a purpose to acknowledge and respect differences that can help towards the attainment of an objective.

5. Lead by Example

For a workplace to embrace cultural differences, a company's human resource management initiatives and key leaders should demonstrate a commitment to inclusivity and respect for diversity. This is one of the foolproof ways to overcome cultural barriers at work - leading by example.

By integrating these values, leaders set a positive tone and base for the other employees to follow. It shows that a workplace respects, accepts, and celebrates cultural diversity. Leaders and managers could reflect this culture by seeking different perspectives in decision-making processes, advocating for inclusive policies and practices, and promptly addressing any discrimination or biases.

Leading by example creates a supportive environment for employees, making them feel valued and empowered and allowing them to freely showcase their unique talents and innovation.

Embracing Diversity for a Stronger Workplace

A successful workplace, without a doubt, embraces cultural diversity. However, to utilise it to the fullest, it is important to propose and execute initiatives acknowledging it, making employees feel they are in a work environment that doesn't restrict them based on their differences.

The goal is to make everyone feel they are heard, seen, and respected for what they are and what they bring to the team.

Overall, when organisations embrace diversity, it leads to better business outcomes and creates a more resilient, adaptable, and successful workplace in today's diverse and interconnected world.