Embracing Cultural Diversity: How To Build Cultural Competence In Teamwork

In many professional settings, teams are becoming increasingly diverse, with members from different cultural backgrounds, ethnicities, and experiences. This diversity brings immense opportunities for creativity, innovation, and collaboration. 

In fact, research has shown that embracing cultural diversity in the workplace can significantly benefit team performance. According to a recent study by McKinsey & Company spanning more than 1,000 large companies, diverse companies are likely to outperform less diverse companies on profitability: in 2019, the more ethnically and culturally diverse companies outperformed the less diverse companies by 36%. 

However, creating an environment where individuals from different backgrounds all feel comfortable and can work together successfully often takes intentional effort. Cultural competence refers to the ability to interact effectively and respectfully with individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds. This competence also involves understanding and appreciating different values, beliefs, customs, and communication styles. Developing cultural competence allows teams to harness the power of diversity and cultivate an environment where everyone is valued. 

In this article, we will examine the core components of cultural competence and explore several strategies that can help you build cultural competence within your team. 

What is cultural competence?

At its core, cultural competence refers to the ability to recognize and respect the vast array of cultures and belief systems of different people and to work effectively in cross-cultural environments. In a professional setting, cultural competence involves attitudes and behaviors as well as policies that allow for this ability. When practiced in the context of teamwork, cultural competence can be an effective powerful tool for building stronger and more cohesive relationships among team members. 

These components serve as a helpful guide in understanding how we can create an inclusive and culturally competent team environment. However, building cultural competence also requires a commitment to ongoing learning and growth. This ever-evolving process requires patience and dedication, but it is worth the effort.

Six strategies for building cultural competence in teamwork

Now that we've reviewed the fundamental concepts of cultural competence, let's explore some specific strategies for building this competency within a team.

1. Developing cultural awareness

Developing cultural awareness is onea critical step toward building cultural competence. Cultural awareness involves recognizing and challenging our own biases, assumptions, and stereotypes, and understanding the important role culture plays in people’s lives. This awareness can provide us with a better understanding of the different experiences, backgrounds, and values that each individual on the team can bring to the table. By examining our cultural background and understanding how it influences our perspectives, we can become more open-minded and empathetic toward others.

Cultural competence training can play a significant role in enhancing cultural awareness. Organizations can provide workshops and resources that educate employees about different cultures, communication styles, and the importance of cultural competence in the workplace. This training can equip individuals with the knowledge and skills to navigate cross-cultural settings more effectively.

2. Cultivating effective communication across cultures

Communication is at the heart of successful teamwork, and understanding and respecting cultural differences in communication styles is crucial. For instance, different cultures may have different norms regarding directness, giving or receiving feedback, or verbal versus non-verbal communication preferences. By recognizing and adapting to these differences, team members can foster effective and respectful communication.

Active listening is a key communication skill in cultural competence. Active listening involves engaging in dialogue without judgment and reflecting on the message before responding. Effective communication allows us to better understand our team members, build trust, and foster meaningful relationships.

Additionally, individuals can make an effort to learn more about communication styles of different cultures, such as learning about the different non-verbal cues that may be common in different cultures. Non-verbal communication includes body language, facial expressions, eye contact, and gestures. These nuances can be important in conveying messages and understanding one another.

3. Building trust and collaboration

Trust is the foundation of many successful teams, and building trust within a culturally diverse team often requires intentional effort. Organizational leaders play a vital role in creating an environment that encourages employees to embrace cultural diversity and engage in open and honest dialogue.

To build trust, leaders can establish clear expectations of inclusivity and cultural competence. They can encourage open communication and active participation from all team members, and they can foster an environment of respect and empathy. By actively promoting collaboration and recognizing the value of diverse perspectives, leaders can cultivate an atmosphere of trust and collaboration that will enable team members to make progress together.

4. Resolving conflict in a culturally diverse team

Conflict is often a natural part of teamwork in any setting, and cultural differences can sometimes exacerbate disagreements or lead to miscommunications. However, conflicts can also be an opportunity for growth and learning if managed effectively.

When faced with conflict, it is important to approaching it with cultural humility may be helpful in defusing the situation. Culturally humble individuals recognize the limitations of their own perspectives and are open to learning from others. They strive to understand different viewpoints and work towards finding common ground through respectful dialogue and compromise.

The goal is to address conflicts constructively without allowing cultural misunderstandings or unconscious biases to interfere with progress. To do this, leaders and team members can focus on creating an open and supportive environment where everyone feels comfortable expressing their ideas without fear of judgment or criticism.

5. Leveraging diversity for innovation and creativity

Cultural diversity within a team brings a wealth of knowledge and experience, which can be used to foster creativity. Through open dialogue and collaboration, team members can share their individual skills and insights to generate innovative solutions. To make this possible, it’s important to create and maintain an environment where everyone feels safe, comfortable, respected, and valued for their unique perspective. 

Organizational leaders can strive to reward creativity and encourage team members to think outside the box. Teams can also benefit from brainstorming sessions or activities that promote creative thinking and problem-solving as a collective. By leveraging the diverse backgrounds and skill sets of team members, organizations may unlock innovative new solutions that can drive progress.

6. Ensuring ongoing training and development for cultural competence

Cultural competence is not a fixed state but rather an ongoing journey of growth and development. Organizations can support employees in fostering cultural competence by providing ongoing training and development opportunities.

Formal training programs and workshops can enhance employees' understanding of cultural differences, communication skills, and conflict-resolution strategies. Experiential learning, such as cultural immersion activities or cross-cultural exchanges, can also provide valuable insights into different cultures and strengthen cultural competence.

Overcoming challenges and obstacles

Building cultural competence in teamwork is not always easy or simple. It can be challenging to establish and maintain a culture of inclusivity and trust, especially when faced with communication differences or misunderstandings, or when trying to do so in an environment where cultural competence has not been the norm. Additionally, it takes time to build cultural awareness and understanding, even with training and development.

Resistance to cultural diversity, unconscious biases, and stereotypes can seriously hinder progress. Creating an environment of true inclusivity in an organization requires taking intentional steps to challenge and dismantle these harmful attitudes.

If you would like support building cultural competence or navigating work challenges, online therapy can help. Building cultural competence in a workplace can be stressful at times, and research has shown that online therapy can be effective for reducing stress at work. For instance, one research study examined the efficacy of a smartphone-administered stress intervention based on acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) among middle managers in the sector, and concluded that it can reduce perceived stress and increase general health. 

Many individuals with busy work schedules may find it difficult to find time for something like therapy, and the flexibility of online therapy may make it easier to schedule. With online therapy, you can have sessions wherever you have internet, eliminating the need for a commute.