The Ripple Effects of Culture: Exploring Our Cultural Perspectives and

Developing Cultural Competency

Deb Breiting and Liz GreasonCo-Owners and Principal Intercultural Trainers

Today’s training us will challenge us to consider...

“What assumptions am I making, that I’m not aware I’m making, that gives me what I see?”

-The Art of PossibilityZander and Zander

Today’s session...

• Is a starting point for further exploration and action

• Will not solve all our challenges or answer all our questions; it’s an introduction to an ongoing process

• Is grounded in the latest research and best practices from the field of Intercultural Communication

• Provides a framework that will help us communicate across difference, regardless of what that difference may be

Agenda1. Ice breaker

2. What is culture?i. Exploring one’s own culture(s)

3. What is intercultural competence?i. Introducing and exploring the 4 steps

4. Important tool for effective communication across difference

5. Reflections and Intentions

With a Partner: “What’s in a Name?”

• What is your name?

• Who named you?

• What does your name mean to you?

• What might your name signal to others?

What’s in a Name?

What did this conversation reveal about:

➔ Your understanding of yourself

➔ Your partner for this exercise, and

➔ The groups that are important to you and/or your partner

What comes to mind when you think of the word

“culture”?

What is culture?

“Understanding “culture” is the foundation—the starting point—for all intercultural efforts. It is the most difficult concept to find widespread agreement on, yet it is central to everything.”

Dr. Mitchell HammerPresident of Intercultural Development Inventory, LLC

http://opengecko.com/interculturalism/visualising-the-iceberg-model-of-culture/

Culture

“The learned and shared values, attitudes, beliefs, behaviors of interacting people” --Janet Bennett, Ph.D.

http://nineaudience.blogspot.com/2013/10/eye-contact-and-movement.html

Cultures• Any group you

belong to can (arguably) be a culture

• What groups are most important to how you see yourself? Or how others see you?

• What cultures/ groups are important or noticeable in your work? (Any not listed?)

http://web.jhu.edu/dlc/resources/diversity_wheel/index.html

A Word About Culture and Equity

Interaction Institute for Social ChangeArtist: Angus Maguire

How Do We Communicate Effectively Across Cultures?

Increase our intercultural competence.

Intercultural Competence

The capability to shift cultural perspective and

adapt—or bridge—behavior to cultural

commonality and difference (Hammer, 2006)

https://image.slidesharecdn.com/reinventyoudiversityandinclusionstrategybychangingyoucorporatelanguage-140206223341-phpapp02/95/reinvent-your-

diversity-and-inclusion-strategy-by-changing-your-corporate-language-10-638.jpg?cb=1391727045

http://www.wikiwand.com/en/Piscataqua_River_Bridge

How Do We Become Interculturally Competent?

1. Understand “culture” as a concept and its ripple

effects, including issues of bias and equity

2. Understand our own culture(s)

3. Understand the cultures of others

4. Learn and practice intercultural communication

skillsDeveloping skills to bridge difference (cultural bridging)

Focus on Step 2: Understanding Our Own Culture

Since an important step in communicating effectively across cultures is understanding our own cultural perspective(s), let’s explore that.

Perception Activity

You are about to see a picture.

In a moment, I’d like you to tell me

something about this picture.

Which is “D”?

1a. She isn’t listening to me.1b. She is looking at her phone while I am talking.

2a. The orientation was scheduled to begin at 9:00. The man arrivedat 9:20.

2b. The man isn’t very organized and doesn’t much respect my time. 3a. The husband is speaking when the wife is being asked a question. 3b. The men in that culture are sexist. (Or, that man is sexist.)

4a. He lied to me.4b. He said yes when the answer to my question was no.

Which is “D”?

5a. She was expressing her emotions outwardly and gesticulating withher hands.

5b. She is too emotional and doesn’t know how to deal with thisconflict rationally. I feel threatened.

6a. Parents articulated that they did not want their child participatingin the summer school.

6b. The parents don’t care about their child’s education.

Is culture “baggage”?

“Your perception […] is a

combination of what’s

before your eyes and the

baggage you bring to the

table.”--Jon Freeman, Ph.D.

Trends in Cognitive Science, 2016

https://www.dreamstime.com/stock-image-cat-lion-shadow-wall-image36567021

Thinking about all this…Reflection

• What is something you heard today that gave you pause?

• What do you see differently as a result of this training? What new ideas do you have?

• What questions are percolating?

Intention

• How might you apply today’s training to your work?

• What is one intention you walk away with?