In the world of globalization and business communication, the world now is like a global village. Internet is accessible in every corner of the world today. People from different countries and different cultures work are increasingly working together. Some people work from their homes either as an online specialist or other professionals catering to services, while others have physical or direct work interactions.
We are interested in understanding the barriers of cultural differences on how work happens today. What are the common grounds that need to be understood, or what are some common questions here when we look at the title “cultural barriers to equity?” Some common questions about the topic would be What are cultural Barriers? What is Equity? How do we overcome cultural Barriers? These are questions we will try to answer in this article.
Culture
Culture is the pattern of differences that the world depicts today. According to Cristina De Rossi.
Culture includes what we eat, what we wear, and how we wear, our languages, our marriage, our music, our religion and what we believe is right or wrong, how we behave with other people.
and several other unspoken behaviors. Cultural dimensions describe a person in ways that provide all the details about his origin, behavior, and beliefs. When people with different cultures come together, this leads to cultural diversity. As globalization continues to take shape workplaces, communities, religious entities, and governments become culturally diverse. Can the infusion of culture create cultural barriers?
What are the Cultural Barriers?
Cultural barriers are challenges to multicultural communication within a group. When individuals from different cultures behave differently and speak different languages, have different beliefs, or use distinctive gestures and signs to communicate, their differences in their cultures might become barriers to work, policies, and acceptance.
For example, when a Japanese responds with a ‘Yes’ to an inquiry, it means he/she is listening. The Americans may take it to mean “Yes I agree.” Another practice that is commonly present between cultures is the informal or formal approach to names. For example, Americans have an informal approach towards names. This practice in Asian culture and others is found disrespectful or may be offensive in some cases. This points to the importance of two-way cultural awareness, knowledge, and communication. To overcome the cultural barriers, we must first acknowledge the growing cultural gap and plan for clear communication.
Sources of Cultural Barriers
Several factors contribute to the cultural barriers. But the most common barriers that are considered are: Language, Unspoken Bias, Stereotyping, Values, Beliefs, Ethnocentrism, Geographical differences, and most important of all is Psychological differences among differing cultures. All these mentioned factors contribute towards the cultural differences among people around the world.
How to overcome Cultural Barriers?
For successful and effective communication to overcome and avoid any communication gap brought about by globalization, we must first recognize that cross-cultural communication is the critical element to overcome all kinds of cultural barriers. In an organization where people from different cultures work together, communication must be careful to influence cultural harmony. Culturally sensitive communications remove tensions among the target audience, employees, residents of communities, and migrants. Here are things to consider to avoid cultural barriers in communication.
- Keep the communication clear and simple
- Be aware of other cultures and norms
- Adapt and accept different cultures
- Open to learning new ideas from other cultures
- Mutual respect for other cultures
- Promoting positive aspects of cultural divergence
Importance of cross-culture Communication
In the present world, cross-cultural communication and competence are growing necessities to support economic growth. This growth is due to a continuous rise in the number of multinational companies and firms whose products and services are global. So it is fair to note the multinationals’ influence on countries’ relationship and the increased awareness of consumers. The internet culture’s role in seeding in this regard.
To promote brand loyalty from the inside out of an organization, the diverse cultural workforce, and the environment, business leaders must promote a uniform environment that challenges inequitable policies. This means that to achieve the goal of a perfect working environment, leaders must become sensitive to the different cultural barriers within their organization and find a sustainable solution.
What is Equity?
Equity is the principle of fairness. Equity exists when the public has what it needs to enjoy full, healthy lives. In contrast, Equality aims to ensure that everyone gets the same access, opportunities, things to enjoy full, healthy lives. Equity is often compared with the linked belief of equality, equality involves a wide variety of educational models, programs, and strategies that may be considered fair but not necessarily equal. Think equity as the process and equality as the outcome. Inequities result from biased or unfair policies, programs, practices, or situations. These inequities at different departments result in the lack of performance results and lack of equality in educational opportunities.
Why cultural Equity is Important?
When the prime focus of an organization is taking equity as an integral element, its programs are more likely to be successful. Cultural equity is the key to kickstarting your activities and maintaining them. The organization that focuses on the reduction of differences among its employees its programs are more likely to get money and the staff it needs as it ensures equity. This idea may sound abstract to some people, but the strong cultural equity will not only lay down the foundation of success for the organization it can also help to secure resources like money and time. Cultural equity in an organization can be established by identifying the problems and taking responsibility to address them.
Companies and organizations should focus on building a universally accepted culture in which there should be clear instructions for every employee that wishes to be part of the company. The culture should understand every other person’s values and beliefs and should respect them. The multinational companies that are working on an international level should provide an organizational climate without any difference of ideas and conflicts. Cross-cultural communication and competence of employees can be improved through the cross-culture knowledge pieces of training and focusing on making mutual benefit policies that would reduce the cultural barriers in the workplace. Cross-culture learning involves cultural competency that will possibly overcome the cross-cultural barriers.
It’s Time to Move Culture Forward
Advancing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion can no longer be ignored and requires a new approach, new skills, and new insights at scale
