“Celebrate Diversity Month” takes place in April every year. It was initiated in 2004 to recognize and honor the diversity of the world around us. In recognition, we’re taking deep dive into what workplace diversity means on a global scale, highlighting different cultural business practices worldwide and how embracing diversity leads to more successful connections.
What does diversity mean?
If you’ve read any of The Orenda Collcetive’s blogs and articles, you are already familiar with the meaning of the D in DEI, but it’s always good to have a refresher.
Diversity is the practice or quality of including or involving people from a range of different social and ethnic backgrounds and of different genders, sexual orientations, etc.
From a business perspective, embracing diversity yields incredible benefits. Working in diverse teams exposes your employees to unique perspectives that help them grow both personally and professionally. According to Forbes, diverse teams deliver 60% better results and make better decisions in 87% of cases. Diversity improves productivity, optimizes performance, improves chances of landing important deals, and impacts your company’s bottom line.
Diversity means more than simple tolerance; it means understanding one another and ensuring people genuinely value their differences. Champions of diversity recognize and activate the strengths of unique perspectives in their organizations. But how can we be advocates for global diversity?
For starters, if you do business with companies from other countries, you must understand how international business etiquette varies from place to place.
Let’s take a look at business cultures around the world.
Every country has its own etiquette and customs for business meetings and interactions. There’s etiquette regarding timeliness, handshake firmness, how long you’ll need to get to know someone before diving into business, and much more.
With countless evidence to support the benefits of diversity, familiarizing yourself and remaining respectful of cultural diversity is key to being a global leader in business.
Here are cultural standards to be aware of:
Dress Codes – In some countries, including Argentina, Japan, and China, it is customary for business professionals to dress conservatively in muted colors. If you want to make a good first impression, men should opt for dark suits, shirts, and subdued ties, and women favor conservative suits or longer skirts with a blazer in classic colors like navy blue, beige, or brown. In contrast, formal business attire is no longer the norm in the United States and the United Kingdom, and dress codes vary significantly across industries and companies.
Weekdays & Weekends – Believe it or not, “weekends” vary from country to country. While the U.S. and European countries recognize Saturday and Sunday as days off, in Iraq, Jordan, Israel, and other countries in the Middle East, the weekend refers to Friday and Saturday. Many cultures reserve Fridays for religious observation, such as Shabbat in Israel, so you’ll want to be sure not to schedule any business that day.
Punctuality – In the United States, it’s generally considered polite to be punctual in business. In China, Switzerland, and Germany, it’s mandatory. Knowing whether punctuality is highly valued is important, so you can plan to arrive on time or slightly early to meetings to show respect. Check out this nifty guide to Punctuality in International Business.
Hierarchical vs. Egalitarian Leadership – Different cultures take different approaches to hierarchy and leadership styles, which affects how meetings are conducted. The United States is mainly egalitarian, meaning there is little difference in power between employees – almost all are considered equal. In a hierarchical culture, however, your rank matters. In Japan, for example, the senior member of the group often leads the business meeting, while younger members speak less out of respect. People of similar positions in different groups should sit across from each other; junior employees should never sit across from senior employees.
Learning the Language/Language Etiquette – Luckily for English speakers, English is the global language of business. If you’re looking to show respect to partners from other countries, however, it’s good to familiarize yourself with cultural expectations before you get together.
For example, if you don’t have time to learn French before doing business in Paris, that’s OK. But, you are expected to apologize for your lack of fluency before engaging in further conversation as a show of good faith.
Pro Tip: Learning a few phrases, such as greetings, thank you, you’re welcome, etc., in your associate’s language – or asking them to teach you – could go a long way in building a connection.
When to Discuss Business – Different cultures take entirely different approaches to conducting business. For example, in Italian business culture, relationships are critical. Italian businesspeople will want to be familiar with you before getting started, so you will get further if you focus on building relationships and getting to know your associates than diving into the brass tacks with numbers and figures. In Germany, on the other hand, business events are well-structured and straight to the point. You don’t want to be joking during business meetings.
This is why research is so important.
Tips for Being a Global Leader in Cultural Diversity
Now that you know some of the differences in business practices, how can you use this information to improve your practices? Here are some tips.
- Boost Trust Within Your Team
Successful relationships start with trust and understanding. Give your own team space to discuss the challenges of championing diversity. What are their questions? What would they like to see? Being comfortable in your culture is the first step to integrating well with others. - Listen To Diverse Voices – If you have team members, vendors, or business partners of diverse backgrounds, ask them to share their experiences and culture firsthand—only if they’re comfortable. There’s no better way to learn.
- Do Your Research – If you take away one thing from this blog, it’s to do your research! If you’re doing business with people from different cultures and countries and are unsure what’s expected, educate yourself beforehand. Encourage your team members to do this as well, and provide them with flexible time during the work week to do so.
- Don’t Use Google Translate – Don’t let messages get lost in translation. Invest in a human translator if you have a critical message and cannot speak the language.
- Check The Time – When setting meetings with people in different locations, consider time differences, work hours, and holidays that may not appear on your calendar. You should also make allowances for cultural differences in work hours, such as the practice of siesta in some countries like Greece. Some countries, including Japan, India, and China, do not recognize Daylight Savings, so it is important to make allowances for that as well.
- Dress For Success – As a general rule of thumb, it’s best to overdress in business situations (think: tailored, conservative, professional) if you’re not sure. Research office dress codes to get a sense of what’s appropriate – and don’t forget to keep climate and forecast in mind!
- Be Aware of Taboos – An essential part of bridging cultural differences is researching a given culture’s defining elements before pursuing a business relationship. While we tend to treat our values and attitudes as the norm, they result from our cultural identity. It’s crucial to be aware that these values may not align with your international partners’ – and could even be considered taboo. For example, in many countries, especially in the Middle East, women must be cautious about how they present themselves. Be sure to read up on cultural dos and don’ts long before you travel to avoid missteps that could cost you business.
- Walk The Walk – Successful business relationship is one thing, but to truly be a global leader in diversity, you have to spread awareness. Do this by keeping diversity – of language, thought, religion, etc. – in mind in all you do. If you partner with companies from other countries (or you want to), make your content accessible by including multi-language translations, scheduling post times that reach people in different timezones, and localizing your content.
For social media marketing tips like these, take a look at our blog: 8 Ways Brands Can Build A More Inclusive Social Media Strategy.
Bringing together diverse individuals is a complex challenge that requires dedicated time, investment, and resources–But It is well worth the effort. A diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace allows you to conduct business respectfully and efficiently at scale. Whether you’re based in Tampa Bay, like The Orenda Collective, or jet-setting to different continents each week, we hope becoming aware of diverse business customs encourages greater global diversity in business.
Are you ready to advocate for cultural diversity in your workplace and worldwide? If you’ve identified growth opportunities and want to improve DEI in your organization, contact The Orenda Collective‘s experts with this form or call 813-384-7630. Let’s shatter boundaries and reach your full potential! Follow @TheOrendaCo on social media for the latest research and tips this month and all year round.
