Our November session brought together a thoughtful group ready to dig into how cultural differences shape our workplace experiences. Felicia talked through the many ways background, identity, upbringing, and social norms influence how we communicate, interpret information, give feedback, handle conflict, and define what “professionalism” looks like.
We explored why misunderstandings happen even when intentions are aligned, and how cross-cultural awareness helps teams move from assumption to clarity. We reflected on our own experiences as a group, everything from differing comfort levels with mental health conversations to clashing approaches to work-life boundaries, and how these differences show up in day-to-day collaboration.
Felicia introduced several practical tools, including Working With Me documents, self- and collective-assessment prompts, the Culture Map framework, and the parable of the elephant as a reminder that each of us sees only part of the whole. We closed by looking at cultural humility as an ongoing practice, not a destination: a commitment to curiosity, reflection, and navigating “multiple truths” with care.
Key Takeaways
- Cultural differences show up in communication, emotional expression, norms around boundaries, attitudes toward hierarchy, and approaches to work-life balance.
- The current U.S. workplace spans five generations, each bringing distinct expectations, values, and comfort levels with feedback and decision-making.
- Working With Me documents and self-assessment questions help teams surface assumptions and better understand how identity and culture influence how people work.
- The Culture Map offers a helpful lens for understanding high-context vs. low-context communication and other cross-cultural dynamics.
- Cultural humility means acknowledging our limited perspective, staying open to multiple interpretations, and approaching differences with curiosity rather than defensiveness.
Thank you to everyone who joined us and contributed your insights!