This morning at the discounter around the corner. A beautifully decorated shelf with delicacies for the holidays from different countries around the world. And there I saw it, this package.
Turrón is a traditional Spanish sweet, a Christmas specialty. It is a type of nougat made from almonds, honey, sugar and egg whites.
It originated in the Arab world and was brought to Spain by the Moors. It has been produced since the 16th century and is very popular throughout Spain and especially in Catalonia. Also in Piedmont under its Italian name “Torrone”.
I have known and loved this pastry since my first site visit at Tarragona. The plant there was on the map of my responsibilities as a global manufacturing leader.
I especially liked to be in Tarragona in December. A beautiful city and mostly mild, nice weather. And yes, there was a small piece of turrón with coffee at this time of the year. Delicious!
During my visit in the second year, the then site manager Josep Altur surprised me with it. He had memorized my preference and then got it separately. At the first meeting together with his leadership team, everyone looked at me with excited eyes. I wondered. Until I discovered the turrón.
How attentive. I was very happy, and you could see it. And everyone was happy that I, as a German, enjoyed this Catalan, Spanish traditional pastry as much as they did. At that moment, I was one of them. How beautiful.
⏭️ A real and lasting moment of happiness. ⏮️
“Diversity is being invited to the table. Inclusion is sharing the cake fairly”. Wise words from Furkan Karayel. Citattion out of her book “Inclusive Intelligence”.
My current workshops on the topic of “intercultural competence” are always about how you can learn culture.
This is because culture reinforces certain patterns of behavior that depend on the social environment. And that leads to our respective habits, thought patterns, and paradigms. And these behavior patterns, which are polarized to “normal”, can be expanded.
“Culinary diversity” and what enjoying local dishes together can do is a supporting element in this regard. This fits in with the guiding principles for intercultural leadership that I am working on. Because we need them. Whether here in Germany or elsewhere in the world.
➡️ What are you doing to immerse yourself in a new culture?
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I am Bernd Scharbert and I accompany and advise you on intercultural topics, be it privately or in business. If you are interested, feel free to follow me at LinkedIn, #Prepare4Landing or contact me directly.
But now there is time for a break. With this in mind, my “Season Greetings” to you combined with the wish for relaxing and recovering holidays.
