Friday 23rd September 2016
I was not able to commit to my Thursday activity as I had a work commitment and as a result I gathered my friends who participated in this exercise with me to decompress and discuss what we had been doing. There was a general consensus that the group discussion that replaced the morning tea was the best activity and they learned the most about each other's culture and how they can respect it.
I learned a lot through this exercise but I think the the biggest takeaway is that meaningful relationships and trust require more than a friendly face. To build relationships you need cultural intelligence which is that ability to approach a conversation with a strategy and tact.
Friday, 23 September 2016
Monday, 19 September 2016
Managing cultural differences 7th day
Monday 19th September 2016
I watched another video on cultural intelligence just to gain more perspectives on the topic. I feel there is a general consensus that this model is the most effective in managing cultural differences.
I then had another morning tea with my friends although there was a complication. My friends weren't able to bring food like before so instead we converted the activity into a group discussion by forming a circle. We treated like a "speed learning" activity however the group method seems to work better as everyone was more comfortable with each other.
I watched another video on cultural intelligence just to gain more perspectives on the topic. I feel there is a general consensus that this model is the most effective in managing cultural differences.
I then had another morning tea with my friends although there was a complication. My friends weren't able to bring food like before so instead we converted the activity into a group discussion by forming a circle. We treated like a "speed learning" activity however the group method seems to work better as everyone was more comfortable with each other.
Friday, 16 September 2016
Managing cultural differences 6th day
Friday 16th September 2016
I completed a cultural intelligence (CQ) quiz and I apparently have low CQ. This was disappointing to find considering all the learning i've done.
I also gathered my friends for another "speed learning" activity and yet again it didn't seem to go over too well. I recognise it is an uncomfortable activity so perhaps it wasn't the best idea to try it again.
I completed a cultural intelligence (CQ) quiz and I apparently have low CQ. This was disappointing to find considering all the learning i've done.
I also gathered my friends for another "speed learning" activity and yet again it didn't seem to go over too well. I recognise it is an uncomfortable activity so perhaps it wasn't the best idea to try it again.
Thursday, 15 September 2016
Managing cultural differences 5th day
Thursday 15th September 2016
Today I watched a Ted talk on cultural intelligence and I am amazed at how powerful it can be. It seems that cultural intelligence is a good tool for building trust which I find fascinating. I assumed having a cultural intelligence just meant not to call someone out for their race or nationality. It seems that if you can become more flexible (not too flexible) on ideas, people will trust you more.
I then went to my workplace and did a survey of my colleagues on how they were being treated. Given what I had watched prior to conducting these interviews, I was surprised to find that everyone was quite comfortable and were experiencing no major quarrels with each other. It seems the ability to concede and be flexible to others has its benefits in a professional environment, despite how it makes one look. I was a little more surprised to find that culture wasn't a talking point in any of the interviews I conducted. I would've addressed it as one of my questions however I was more interested in if they employees were happy. If they were quarrelling, I probably would've asked if it was culture related and as a result, the topic of managing different cultures never came up.
Today I watched a Ted talk on cultural intelligence and I am amazed at how powerful it can be. It seems that cultural intelligence is a good tool for building trust which I find fascinating. I assumed having a cultural intelligence just meant not to call someone out for their race or nationality. It seems that if you can become more flexible (not too flexible) on ideas, people will trust you more.
I then went to my workplace and did a survey of my colleagues on how they were being treated. Given what I had watched prior to conducting these interviews, I was surprised to find that everyone was quite comfortable and were experiencing no major quarrels with each other. It seems the ability to concede and be flexible to others has its benefits in a professional environment, despite how it makes one look. I was a little more surprised to find that culture wasn't a talking point in any of the interviews I conducted. I would've addressed it as one of my questions however I was more interested in if they employees were happy. If they were quarrelling, I probably would've asked if it was culture related and as a result, the topic of managing different cultures never came up.
Monday, 12 September 2016
Managing cultural differences 4th day
Monday 12th September 2016
I completed a quick test in the form of a video on YouTube. Within the literature, I've been reading about cultural intelligence and how I should think strategically when approaching a conversation. I wanted to see if what I read, combined with my experiences from the first week had made any impact on my cultural difference management skills. The test was easier than I thought. After that I had the idea to gather my friends for a meal and I asked them to bring some food from their culture as something fun. Reading what I've read and knowing how well my jokes were received, I am slightly hesitant to speak to my friends which is uncharacteristic. I think I need to find the right balance when it comes to being sensitive, after all, they are my friends and the literature refers more to the workplace.
I completed a quick test in the form of a video on YouTube. Within the literature, I've been reading about cultural intelligence and how I should think strategically when approaching a conversation. I wanted to see if what I read, combined with my experiences from the first week had made any impact on my cultural difference management skills. The test was easier than I thought. After that I had the idea to gather my friends for a meal and I asked them to bring some food from their culture as something fun. Reading what I've read and knowing how well my jokes were received, I am slightly hesitant to speak to my friends which is uncharacteristic. I think I need to find the right balance when it comes to being sensitive, after all, they are my friends and the literature refers more to the workplace.
Friday, 9 September 2016
Managing cultural differences 3rd day
Friday 9th September 2016
Today I tried an activity similar to speed dating where my peers and I go from person to person and exchange their culture and values with each other. My Italian friend and I spoke about what I said and from what I understood, he was just taken back by how my opinion of him changed after learning about his upbringing. Although I was making a joke, this one line turned into a one week ordeal. Apart from this revelation, the activity didn't seem to go over too well. I think everyone was a little too hesitant to engage they don't know each other too well.
Today I tried an activity similar to speed dating where my peers and I go from person to person and exchange their culture and values with each other. My Italian friend and I spoke about what I said and from what I understood, he was just taken back by how my opinion of him changed after learning about his upbringing. Although I was making a joke, this one line turned into a one week ordeal. Apart from this revelation, the activity didn't seem to go over too well. I think everyone was a little too hesitant to engage they don't know each other too well.
Thursday, 8 September 2016
Managing cultural differences 2nd day
Thursday 8th September 2016
I've had 2 days from doing this due to work commitments however I am still thinking about that interaction I had with my friend Frank. I have completed culture tests that challenged my knowledge about different countries. I am genuinely surprised by my scores, not in a good way. I also tried to do the Mexican quiz however I believe it is broken on the website
Italian culture quiz
Japanese culture quiz
Chinese culture quiz
I've had 2 days from doing this due to work commitments however I am still thinking about that interaction I had with my friend Frank. I have completed culture tests that challenged my knowledge about different countries. I am genuinely surprised by my scores, not in a good way. I also tried to do the Mexican quiz however I believe it is broken on the website
Italian culture quiz
Japanese culture quiz
Chinese culture quiz
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