Communication
6 Communication and Culture
Learning Outcome
- Demonstrate effective verbal and non-verbal communication strategies for the workplace.
Communication Skills
Communication skills are vital to success in the workplace. Many of us work and live in a multicultural areas, so the ability to communicate effectively with people from other cultures is paramount to success in the workplace. It’s important to recognize that there are differences in worldviews.
Exercise
Take some time to review Indigenous Peoples Worldviews vs Western Worldviews from Indigenous Corporate Training Inc. to learn more.
Quite often our cultural differences extend into differences in communication. Rupert Ross said “until you understand that your own culture dictates how you translate everything you see and hear you will never be able to see or hear things in any other way (2006, pg. 4). It is therefore important to recognize how you communicate, and if you are understood by others.
Communication on the job site is essential. Your work will involve communicating with many different people from diverse professional and cultural backgrounds. You will be working with co-workers on site, and you might also work with architects, designers, or book keepers and accountants. You need to be able to effectively communicate with your colleagues in order to do your job well.
Active Listening
At work, you need to be able to show that you understand. A great way to demonstrate that you really heard someone is to employ Active Listening techniques:
- wait for the speaker to finish
- give the speaker your full attention and nod to show you are listening
- engage with the speaker through eye contact
- repeat back or summarize main points
- ask clarifying questions
Eye Contact
Some of these practices, such as maintaining eye contact, are not as important during conversation for some Indigenous peoples as it is within Canada’s work culture. This can be a challenge for some Indigenous people in their work life. In mainstream Canada, maintaining eye contact is linked to building trust and respect. If you feel uncomfortable maintaining eye contact, it is helpful for you to communicate this to your employer and/or work colleagues. After all, most people want to build respectful relationships through understanding.
Exercise
For information about the importance of direct eye contact within mainstream Canada, have a look at The Importance of Eye Contact and How to Improve It.
Many employers are open to and interested in becoming more aware and sensitive to Indigenous people and culture. If you believe your employer may be curious about your culture and/or why you behave differently in situations than your colleagues, consider asking. Many mainstream Canadians do not question or talk about Indigenous people/culture because they are afraid of saying or doing the wrong thing. You can help by being open to their questions about your culture, history, worldview, etc.
Personal Space
Respecting pers