What is cultural awareness?

Cultural awareness typically refers to recognizing and understanding the differences and similarities between various cultures and societies. It can involve awareness of the values, beliefs, customs and behaviours that characterize different groups. You can often find intercultural understanding in various contexts, such as in the workplace, education, health care, and international sectors, as it can help build better relationships, enhance collaboration, and create an inclusive society. Here are some key features of multicultural awareness:

• Learning cultural differences: Understanding how people live, work, and interact based on their backgrounds, especially newcomers, can involve awareness of different languages, traditions, social norms, and etiquette.
• Self-awareness: Recognizing cultural influences and biases often involves reflecting on how your background shapes your perceptions and interactions.
• Sensitivity and respect: Showing respect for cultural differences and sensitivity to different backgrounds can influence individuals’ perspectives and behaviours. This can include avoiding stereotypes and prejudices.
• Effective communication: This can involve language proficiency and understanding non-verbal cues and cultural conditions that impact communication.
• Adaptability: Being flexible and open-minded during interactions with people from different cultures often means adjusting one’s behaviour and expectations to accommodate differences.
• Inclusivity: This means promoting and practising inclusivity by valuing an environment where people from all backgrounds feel respected, noticed, and heard.

Strategies for becoming more culturally aware

People often form stereotypes based on their experiences or beliefs, and recognizing these biases can change how you communicate. By becoming culturally aware, we sharpen our interpersonal skills and sensitivity to others’ emotions, enhancing communication. Also, building personal connections with colleagues can be beneficial in today’s digital landscape, where face-to-face interactions are minimal. Organizations can promote intercultural understanding using the following strategies:

Learning about other cultures

People generally view the world through their subconscious values and beliefs, which can cause unintentional insensitivity to other cultures. To overcome this, you can engage with other cultures by attending festivals and events that offer authentic insights into how they express themselves through music, food, and art.

Understanding assumptions and impressions of the world

Your assumptions about body language and communication styles can alter your perception of the world, often reflecting your ingrained culture. These can be so embedded that you may not even recognize them, leading you to expect others to share your perspective. People usually hold certain assumptions and stereotypes about other cultures. By examining these assumptions with self-awareness, you can promote awareness, making cross-cultural relationships more effective.

Attending unconscious bias and harassment training

Unconscious bias can be challenging to detect because it’s often ingrained and unintentional, appearing as normal behaviour. Bias can take different forms, from workplace treatment to character portrayal in media. Harassment training can effectively reduce unconscious bias in the workplace, leading to a more inclusive environment. Employees subjected to such bias often become disengaged and less productive. Training helps develop cultural intelligence, enabling you to understand different backgrounds and consciously manage your biases.

Using inclusive hiring practices

Ensuring that recruitment processes are inclusive and fair can involve using a diverse hiring team (reducing individual biases), eliminating bias in job descriptions (attracting more applicants), and implementing blind recruitment techniques (evaluating candidates solely on their qualifications, skills, and experience).

Celebrating cultural events

Hosting events and celebrations honouring different cultures within the organization can include festivals, heritage months, and international potlucks, allowing employees to share and learn about other traditions.

Supporting employee resource groups (ERGs)

Promoting the formation of ERGs can provide a safe space for employees from similar backgrounds to connect, support one another, and help educate your organization about their cultures.

Promoting leadership commitment

Encouraging managers and supervisors to champion awareness by modelling inclusive behaviour, participating in competence training, and promoting open, respectful dialogue about diversity can lead others to do the same.

Soliciting feedback

Open communication channels allow employees to discuss issues, share their experiences, and provide feedback on diversity initiatives. You can do this through regular meetings, surveys, and suggestion boxes.

Using inclusive policies

Developing and enforcing policies that prevent discrimination and promote equality can ensure inclusive workplace practices, such as holiday policies, dress codes, and communication styles.

Offering educational resources

Providing access to books, articles, workshops, and other resources can educate employees about different cultures. You can do this through a company library, online resources, or partnerships with cultural organizations.

Providing mentorship and sponsorship programs

Establishing programs that pair employees from diverse backgrounds with mentors or sponsors can support professional growth and help with intercultural challenges in the workplace.

Benefits of cultural awareness in the workplace

Cultural awareness in the workplace can significantly benefit your employees and the overall environment. Below are some advantages of increasing multicultural knowledge in your organization:

Increased inclusivity

When an organization values multicultural understanding, employees from diverse backgrounds can feel more included and respected. This sense of belonging can enhance job satisfaction, morale, and loyalty to the company.

Improved teamwork

Employees are more likely to collaborate creatively and productively when they understand and respect each other’s viewpoints. This transparent environment can encourage open communication, where employees feel safe to share their ideas without fear of judgment or misunderstanding.

Reduced conflict

Respect for differing viewpoints can help reduce the likelihood of conflicts, as employees are more empathetic and open to compromise.

Better problem solving

Multicultural teams can bring various perspectives and problem-solving approaches, enabling them to be more innovative and creative with their solutions.

Greater employee retention

Expanding awareness can contribute to a positive workplace culture that helps reduce turnover and retain top talent. This stability can benefit employees and the company, saving costs on hiring and training new staff.

Increased global competence

Intercultural understanding can prepare employees to work effectively with global workforces and in international situations.

Enhanced reputation

Companies known for their inclusive practices can attract a wider talent pool. A reputation for valuing diversity can also enhance the company’s brand and appeal to a broader range of customers and clients.

Reduced anxiety

A culturally aware workplace can help reduce stress and anxiety arising from misunderstandings or insensitivity. Employees may feel more comfortable and confident in their interactions, leading to a better work experience.

Equity

Culturally aware workplaces are more likely to implement fair policies and practices that consider the diverse needs of their workforce. When employees perceive fairness and equity in the workplace, their satisfaction and trust in the organization increase.

Professional development

Organizations that value cultural understanding often provide training and development opportunities related to diversity and inclusion, demonstrating their commitment to employee professional growth.

Empowerment

When employees know their employer values their identity, they’re more likely to feel empowered and engaged in their work, which motivates them to contribute to the organization’s success.

Positive culture

A company culture of inclusivity and respect creates a positive and supportive work environment. When the workplace culture is positive, employees generally enjoy coming to work and feel satisfied with their jobs.

Alignment with personal values

Employees who care about diversity and inclusion may feel more aligned with an organization that promotes intercultural understanding. This alignment can enhance job satisfaction, as employees feel they’re working in a place that shares their values.

Through cultural awareness, organizations can create an inclusive environment that values and respects diversity, increasing employee satisfaction and retention. Accepting diverse perspectives can enrich the workplace culture and align with personal values, ultimately contributing to a more successful business. Organizations that follow these principles can enhance the wellbeing and satisfaction of their employees and build a loyal, dedicated, and stable workforce.