How can different cultures be made tangible in order to convey a feeling of more normality and to enable the breaking up of old thought patterns?
I introduced specific cultural trainings for my organizations, including myself btw, and organized a physical meeting once a year so that the virtual video conferences got a real face and workshop elements could be used for intercultural exchange. They became an integral part of my organizations’ team-building process.
Learning together in a team is an excellent way to understand what the unwritten laws, the set of rules, are all about.
I have had really good experiences with an intercultural simulation game that aims to illustrate cultural differences and misunderstandings.
In the game, the participants are divided into groups and given different rules of the game without knowing the variations at first. During the game, surprises, confusion and frustration arise because the participants are not aware of the slightly different rules. After the game, there is a reflection on the misunderstandings experienced and the corresponding causes.
I used this game to try it out directly with my leadership team. We recorded the learning experiences on a flipchart. Just look at how often the word “rule” appears in it.
After this workshop, this chart was only called “Our Cultural Rulebook” for us in the management team.
Above all, the tips that suggest options for action are important:
✳️ Pay attention to body language
✳️ Perceive the differences
✳️ Travel
✳️ Listen with Empathy
✳️ Allow contradictory things and ambiguities
Building mutual understanding and ultimately building trust is always the goal.
➡️ What experiences have you had with intercultural team building?
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I am Bernd Scharbert and I accompany and advise when it comes to intercultural leadership, diversity & inclusion and sustainable work in general. If you are interested, feel free to contact me.
