There are many aspects of culture — shared language, traditions, norms and beliefs and customs. Regardless of the culture, successful interactions across cultures are built on respect, trust and the ability to communicate effectively. Use the following tips to build your cross-cultural relationships:
Seek to understand. Don’t make assumptions. Ideally you want to learn about different cultures through a variety of credible sources – your own personal relationships, books, travel, research and ongoing education.
Keep an open mind. Avoid stereotypes. Expand your base by building a broad cross-section of relationships – gender, race, sexual orientation, country of origin and people who think differently from you.
Start with “who you know.” The best place to start is with others who you know inside and outside of your organization, business, and social organizations.
Attend multicultural networking events. Professional organizations, cultural events, conferences, diversity forums, minority business expos and community events are all great places to network.