For more than twenty years I’ve been in the business of helping
global teams collaborate
at their best. I’ve seen a lot in those twenty years, from struggling teams to high-performing ones.
Along the way I noticed a pattern I want to share with you: High-performing global teams are curious about each other’s cultures.
By way of contrast, I’ve observed teams working with a specific country for years without knowing even the basics, such as who the country’s leader is.
Why is this important? Can’t you work together without that information? Of course you can, but I would argue not at your best.
Why? Because learning the basics of the cultures you work with is a signal that everyone matters. That signal then creates motivation, and motivation gives way to high-performance.
In my experience, the time investment is minimal and the payoff is big.
What should you learn about? Here are a few suggestions. Don’t feel like you have to do them all! Pick your favorites. You can choose a country, region, or city to explore.
- Who are the country’s political leaders?
- Does the country have states/provinces? If so, how many?
- What major holidays are celebrated? How about the holidays of underrepresented groups?
- What’s the weather like in your colleagues’ region?
- What about the food? What is a signature dish in that region?
- What languages are spoken there?
- What are some examples of cultural values there?
- What is does a typical work day look like there, including traffic and commuting?
- What’s the latest news from that area?
Where do you learn this information?
- Ask your colleagues
- Prompt AI with questions like “What are some basic facts about India that would help me understand my colleagues better?”
- Go to the government websites of the countries themselves
- Go to news sites local to the region
(Be sure to use reliable sources and double-check facts before sharing them if you do so.)
Over time, you can go deeper if you like. Explore the variations in culture and how culture impacts the workplace. Think about how you can amplify the voices of underrepresented people on your team.
But start with the basics. Some of that information will help you with workplace matters like scheduling and coordinating calendars! Trust me on that one.
But most of all give that signal that everyone matters. This mindset will affect your team in a positive way, whether you are aware of it or not.
I’d love to learn something about your culture! Share in the comments if you’re willing.
Until next time, let’s keep our curiosity alive.
