How can you use Emotional Intelligence to build trust with colleagues from different cultures?

To build trust and rapport with individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds It is necessary we embrace the concept of Cultural Relativism which emphasizes that a culture should be comprehended and evaluated only through its internal standards, behaviors, norms, and values, rather than external criteria or personal view. It is our ability to view and respect others culture without sentiment or emotions from our personal and cultural background. This involves deep appreciation and respect for each culture's unique dynamics without any trace of ethnocentrism. Understanding others culture with an open mind and respecting it within its own context and framework, will foster more trust and effective communication in intercultural interactions.

It is essential to embrace an understanding of culture and to know your biases. However, many of us carry a deep sense of separation from other cultures, which undermines our ability to communicate effectively. It's not just with other cultures but nationalities, races etc. This separation creates a barrier that can only be broken at the emotional, energetic layer. Once it has, then we no longer feel separate but connected. In other words, your effectiveness in cross-cultural communication is a function of the unconscious emotional programs that create your sense of separation.

This is self-explanatory, but we all have biases. Sometimes they help us bond with different cultures; sometimes they are an obstacle. The best way to hack your biases is to adopt the curiosity of a child's mindset and just listen. There is nothing more attractive than being heard, and nothing wiser than listening. With these two aspects combined, you start from a fresh ground of discovery, and the other person will become someone interesting to discover and find common ways to bond and interact.

Importante seria buscar um ambiente de confiança e valorização das forças e legitimidade das fraquezas, para que as pessoas se sintam confortáveis para compartilhar essas diferentes culturas. Além disso, desenvolver os colaboradores da "cultura dominante" (em maior número de pessoas) para esse entendimento e aprendizagem, trabalhando conceitos de diversidade, equidade e inclusão.

Cultivate emotional intelligence by actively listening, showing empathy, and adapting communication styles to accommodate cultural differences. Understand their perspectives, respect their values, and embrace diversity to establish trust and meaningful connections.

Educate yourself about the cultures of your colleagues. Learn about their customs, values, and communication styles. This knowledge will help you avoid unintentional cultural misunderstandings. When I worked for a company with employees from all over the world, a team activity I loved to do was to start the weekly meeting with 5 min, where every time, one person would do a presentation about where they come from. I learned about beautiful countries, funny customs, and even some slang.

Many cultures carry specific emotional patterns, which will differ from yours. These are deep-seated programs, and understanding these will enable you to use your intuitive abilities effectively. For example, many English people have a program that says, 'keep a stiff upper lip'. In other words, pretend everything is OK, even when it isn't. Watching your inner reaction to this program and releasing it will give you the ability to respond intuitively. You will come from compassion rather than judgment.

To get practical experience about other cultures, you don't even need to visit another country. Follow these steps: 1) Go to an event or space where there are people different than you (e.g. an event at a park, a religious service, take public transportation, go to a community event listed on Facebook, etc) 2) Be curious, not judgmental. See yourself as the "foreigner" and note the differences. 3) Talk to one person, ask them why they're at the event or what they like to do for fun. Now you have first hand experience, not just theoretical knowledge. Most people aren't willing to get out of their comfort zone. If you are, you will develop your Emotional Intelligence.

3 actionable tips to help you with this: 💡Get curious: Explore your colleagues' culture by immersing yourself in local activities, trying their cuisine, or joining celebrations that are important to them. 💡 Be a culture adventurer: Sign up for cross-cultural workshops in your company/community/city - It's like a travel adventure without fully leaving the country! 💡Ask, don't assume: Have a genuine chat with colleagues from the culture you're interested in. Dive deep in engaging stories from cultures you are yet to experience. 🌍

We can think intellectually about what to say and how to say it, but true connection comes when we release those emotional barriers that create our sense of separation. It is at that point that our communication style adapts naturally and effortlessly. We don't need to think about what to say; we intuitively say the right thing at the right moment.

Adapting your communication style is key in cross-cultural interactions and international environments. 💎 A few additional tips that go a long way: - Active listening - Avoiding snap judgments - Asking open-ended questions - Paying attention to your body language - Clarifying questions to make sure you really understand the context

Providing culturally sensitive feedback involves understanding their preferences, respecting cultural norms, and adapting your approach accordingly. Recognize that different cultures have varying expectations regarding feedback, whether it's private or public, direct or indirect, and individual or collective. Always ask for your colleagues' preferences, use specific examples, and be timely and consistent in your communication. Avoid stereotypes, acknowledge the value of diverse perspectives, and seek feedback to continuously improve your approach. Leading by example and demonstrating cultural sensitivity in your interactions can set a positive tone for the entire team, fostering trust and effective collaboration.

When things seem unclear, don't stay in the dark. Seek feedback, ask for concrete examples, and clarify to shed light to understand the situation. 🌟 FOR EXAMPLE Instead of saying "Do you have any feedback for me?' you can say: "I put in my best effort, but I believe I can improve my project management skills to meet deadlines more effectively next time. Do you have any suggestions on how I can achieve this?"

Techniques to manage conflicts and emotions will work as and when those emotions surface. However, what if we decide to work deeper and work on those emotions before they can surface? We can sit with our judgements and prejudices, understanding the reason for their existence and in doing so, we can transmute ourselves into someone free from such programs. If we can do this, we are less likely to experience conflict or challenging emotions. If we are not yet ready for this type of work, then using mindfulness practices and breathing techniques will help us immensely.

Interpersonal conflict is part of any relationship, social life, and workplace dynamic. So it's key to understand how we manage conflict. 3 common conflict management styles at work: ▪️Avoidance: Avoiding disagreement by staying silent ▪️Domination: Pushing for their own agenda, often at others' expense ▪️Integrative problem solving: Finding a win-win by taking everyone's needs into account. Grounded in trust and openness. 🤝

I formed a habit to share an untranslatable "word of the week" in a weekly global meeting with an international and highly divers crew. Tried to make it funny but the core message was that different cultures have special words for concepts that are important to them. This way I learned words like "sombresa" (Spanish), "dabanda" (Hausa), "Elmosolyodik" (Hungarian). But more important than creating a fun moment and learning words is creating awareness about subtle cultural differences.

If possible, learn some basic phrases or greetings in your colleagues' native languages. This gesture can go a long way in building rapport and trust. Saying hello, goodbye and thank you creates a bond and adds humor and a personal touch (especially if you cant get the accent right!)

Emotional Intelligence comes from replacing judgment with curiosity. It sounds simple, but here's why people fail: They attach their identity to their opinions. So when a new idea or person differs from them, they feel challenged. They feel that to change their mind or to see a new perspective would mean to give up their identity. Which leads people to close up or feel defensive. Here's what to do instead to become an EI pro: Instead of identifying as your opinions, identify with being a curious, growth-oriented person. That way you will be able to take in new ideas and friendships without losing your sense of self. You will not only get better at understanding other cultures, you'll get better at understanding yourself.

Perhaps I am more Blessed than most. Having family and friends throughout the world I understand and respect all cultures, beliefs and religions. What I do not know - I seek to learn about and understand. I do not fear nor hate what is different or unfamiliar. I embrace differences and change. I am a lifelong learner and continue learning languages, scholarly endeavors, cultures and so forth. As the world becomes more global we must all seek to find our commonalities after all we are one race - one love - no color lines y'all! ❤️ The Human Race!