What’s Your Comfort Level with Cross-Cultural Interactions?
Though we live in an increasingly connected world, the cultural divide is wider than ever.
With the wonders of technology, we still need people who are brave enough to build bridges for a more inclusive society. Diversity is a constant and our future will be shaped by those who dare to embrace cultural curiosity.
As I write this, it sounds so simple…yet so few of us do it. My choice to be more intentional about inclusion was over a decade ago and I’m still learning.
The Interaction - Familiar vs. Unfamiliar
Like most, when I interact with someone who shares my cultural background, communication feels intuitive. The jokes land, the unspoken cues are understood, and the conversation flows.
But with a colleague from a different culture, I feel a slight hesitation, a need to think more deliberately about my words and body language. My mind is in a perpetual state of wondering whether I am coming across as intended, biases in check, and connecting toward positive outcomes.
As it turns out, there is science behind what we feel.
Here’s what the experts say:
Making the Connection: We are wired with what psychologists call an "in-group" preference. It's a cognitive shortcut that makes us feel more at ease with people we perceive as being "like us." It's simply a matter of cognitive fluency. Our brains find it easier to process familiar information and social cues.
The opportunity to bridge the divide lies in our willingness to consciously push past this autopilot comfort setting and create meaningful connection through listening and being present.
Managing the Bias: When meeting a new person, our brain instantly pulls from a lifetime of experiences and associations. These shortcuts can be a bridge or a barrier. Experts say that unconscious bias almost always hinders genuine connection. It can cause us to make snap judgments that limit our ability to see a person for who they truly are.
The opportunity to bridge the divide lies in awareness. Honest. Uncomfortable. Awareness. It’s the first step toward disrupting the pattern.
Pause to notice what’s happening inside your mind during these exchanges. This is that tap on your shoulder that says lean into the discomfort of not knowing, ask questions that matter, and be open to your colleagues unique approach – just because you are unfamiliar with it does not mean that it holds no value.
Authenticity – Are You Truly Yourself: Let’s pause and reflect here. When you are the cultural minority in a group, do you change how you speak or act? Do you hold back parts of your personality to better "fit in"? This is a well-documented phenomenon known as "code-switching."
When we are from the non-dominant culture, there is often pressure to adjust our communication style, mannerisms, and even appearance to align with the majority. While it can be a useful survival tool, it is also cognitively and emotionally draining.
The opportunity to bridge the divide means that we don’t expect or require people to assimilate; we create space for psychological safety where every coworker feels they can bring the best version of themselves to work without fear of judgment.
This is my invitation for you to unpack what it is that holds you back from bridging the cultural divide and address it.
Start today! Hold up a mirror, or the selfie mode on your phone. Look yourself in the eye and ask, “What is my mindset and emotions that prevent me creating authentic connection with people from other cultures?”