Navigating Cultural Differences: The Key to Psychological Safety in Global Teams

In today's episode, Tim and Junior dive into the world of cross-cultural communication and explore the importance of understanding cultural differences. From nonverbal communication to attitudes towards conflict and time orientation, they examine how cultural dimensions impact our behavior and interactions with others. Join them for an episode full of practical tips for developing intercultural competence and improving your effectiveness in a globalized world.

(0:01:27) Introduction. Over 70% of failed international ventures are due to cultural differences. Cultural misunderstandings, we'll talk about those today, can cost companies millions of dollars, and they can damage relationships with partners and customers around the world.

(0:14:25) Defining cultural differences. The way that we view cultural differences is often geographic, our awareness of that needs to be not just at the level of geography, but at the level of person-to-person. 

(0:20:09) Some cultural variables to consider. The effectiveness of our approach to culture will be dictated in some measure by the awareness of these differences that we've talked about and how those differences impact our behavior and strategy. Are your people used to communicating directly or indirectly? Do they value individualism or collectivism? How do they view hierarchy? What is their time orientation? How do they use nonverbal communication? What’s their attitude towards conflict?

(0:37:55) Localization and globalization examples. Why won’t you find the same McDonald's menu in every country? 

(0:42:52) Geert Hofstede and power distance. Tim and Junior share a cultural dimensions theory based on a series of surveys that were done in the '70s and '80s at IBM.

(0:47:32) Power distance and psychological safety. Cultures with low power distance that emphasize equality, individual rights, and autonomy create an environment more conducive to developing Stage 4: Challenger Safety.

(0:51:20) Overcoming bias on global teams. Tim and Junior discuss how to create Stage 1: Inclusion Safety and frame humanity above human characteristics.

(1:04:13) Developing interpersonal or intercultural competence. This is how you improve your teams on a practical level.