Understanding Cultural Differences in the Workplace Essay

Understanding Cultural Differences in the Work Place Spring Session B Professor Davis 5/6/2012 Chamberlain College Of Nursing The importance of understanding cultural, ethnic and gender differences by managers and professionals in a business setting is essential to make the work environment comfortable. In every culture there are basic standards of thinking, and acting and these cultural differences strongly influence workplace values and communication. What may be considered acceptable and natural in the workplace for one person may be unacceptable for another person. People from diverse cultures bring new ways of thinking, creativity and language skills needed to survive in today’s work force. In many†¦show more content†¦When there is a commonality the gap in the bridge can be closed. Having a commonality will allow the gap in cultural, gender and ethnical differences to merge together. Example, there is an older lady that work with me who is very quiet and she is from Africa. Several coworkers whisper about her, stating â€Å"she’s evil, she’s scary, and she’s a witch†. I started talking to this lady and I enjoyed our conversation. This woman has so much wisdom that I felt like a little child sitting at the feet of my Parents. This woman stated â€Å"I know what people are saying about me and told me she’s not a witch and that she doesn’t get involved in other people business and that she sit and observe quietly and pray when she’s not working.† This woman is now known as the go to person if you need prayer. Because of this woman being different from what was considered normal she was labeled. According to the lecture for this week, â€Å"The challenge for us is to find ways to bridge the gap between groups . To do so, we have to develop certain skills and abilities. The first is to examine our own views of others, be they part of the minority or the majority group, a different social class, or a different gender.† (Bell, 2007). As a manager one would have to examine their views and cultural biases before trying to implement cultural literacy to their employees. Once managers and professionals become culturally literate then the cultural bridges at work can be formed. This can happen byShow MoreRelatedCross Cultural Relationships1105 Words   |  5 PagesCROSS CULTURAL RELATIONSHIPS As the world becomes more and more internationally connected, the need to understand people from different cultures and how to interact appropriately with them also increases. Managers and leaders need to develop intercultural competences that can help them be more aware of their own culturally-based perceptions, norms, and patterns of thinking, and consequently adapt their behaviors according to specific cultural contexts. 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