What is cross cultural training? The term "cross cultural training" refers to training courses that develop an awareness between people where a common cultural framework does not exist or is not recognized. We are going to look at it in the context of creating a common cultural framework between non-Aboriginal and Aboriginal People in Canada.
Cross-cultural training (CCT), which aims to develop the awareness, knowledge and skills needed to interact appropriately and effectively with Aboriginal People, should be considered an important element in every business plan. For all sizes of businesses, organisations and institutions cultural competence should be closely linked to mission statements, policies, organisational values and service delivery objectives.
Most commonly, CCT is provided by employers to employees so that they learn how to work effectively and respectfully with Aboriginal co-workers. A culturally aware worksite that is free of racism, resentment and cultural ignorance provides a safe, inclusive environment for Aboriginal workers; providing such a worksite allows them to live up to their potential as valuable employees. Aboriginal people are the fastest growing segment of the Canadian population and represent a valuable source for workers, especially given the demographics of the country and the looming wave of retirees in the offing.
A good CCT program will include the history of Aboriginal Peoples pre and post contact with Europeans. It is through awareness of the impact of European contact on the thriving Aboriginal population and vibrant cultures that lays the groundwork for a comprehensive understanding of the issues and challenges that some Aboriginal people face today. A full spectrum program will also include information on current social and economic impacts on Aboriginal people.
Frequently, cross cultural course material is provided with the narrow focus of the worksite only and does not lend itself to reality outside the work environment. Truly effective CCT provides an understanding of Aboriginal culture that extends beyond the workplace and into society. It is not enough to provide guidance on how to relate to co-workers from nine to five - CCT should also provide guidance on how to relate to Aboriginal Peoples as members of the community at large.
Who in an organization should take CCT?
Now, we could be biased on this as we provide cross cultural training privately and publicly, but from our perspective this training should be made available to everyone in an organization. From the top brass right down through the ranks. The goal to create a worksite environment that is culturally aware should be systemic - there is not much point in providing the training to the managerial side of the business but not the front line workers - and vice versa.
If you are just beginning to look for a provider of CCT, here's an article on what to look for.
Check out these slides from my Intercultural presentation at the Vancouver Board of Trade Aboriginal Opportunities Forum.
Here is a short video of the Vancouver Board of Trade Presentation to go with the slides. It will give you a sense of my personal delivery style of cross cultural training.
As always, I appreciate feedback so if you have any, please leave a comment below.
FAQs
What is cross cultural training? ›
What is cross cultural training? The term "cross cultural training" refers to training courses that develop an awareness between people where a common cultural framework does not exist or is not recognized.
What is cross-cultural training and its importance? ›Cross cultural training aims to develop awareness between people where a common cultural framework does not exist in order to promote clear lines of communication and better relationships. Cross cultural training has many benefits to be gained by both participants and businesses.
What is an example of cross-cultural training? ›Another example of cross-cultural training is cross-border business training. This type of training is designed to support international business communication and collaboration. In the global economy, it's becoming more and more common for businesses to have employees based in different countries.
What are the elements of cross-cultural training? ›- Global Mindset.
- Know Your Audience.
- Design Training with Global Intent.
- Delivering Training Across Cultures.
- Delivery Tips.
- Keep in Mind.
Typical cultural awareness training topics include communicating across language barriers, managing culturally diverse teams, and sensitivity training.
What are the benefits of cross-cultural experience? ›The cross-cultural experience allows students to confront their own presuppositions about what culture is and what culture means. The experience also helps students broaden their awareness and appreciation of diverse cultures.
What are some examples of cross-cultural? ›- Accepting a business card from a Japanese businessperson is not a casual action. ...
- In China, giving a direct "yes" or "no" answer, or demanding one of anyone else, is considered very rude. ...
- In Mexico, business is done primarily among friends and family.
In the workplace setting, cross-cultural competence means workers have the ability to understand, communicate, and effectively interact with people across cultures, be it their colleagues, customers, clients, or suppliers.
What are the three stages of cross-cultural training? ›Individuals and organizations interacting and working with various cultural and ethnic backgrounds can achieve cultural competency by going through a three-stage development process: developing cultural awareness, acquiring cultural knowledge, and enhancing cross-cultural skills.
What are the five steps to developing cross-cultural awareness? ›- Awareness. It all starts with this: being aware that different countries have different ways and times of doing things. ...
- Preparation. ...
- Language. ...
- Humour. ...
- Openness.
How do you train employees on culture? ›
- Write a Core Values Top 10 List. First, if you don't have a short list of your company values, create one. ...
- Test Employee Values. ...
- Ask Culture-Specific Questions. ...
- Reinforce Culture With Ongoing Training.
Intercultural training reduces the risk of miscommunication. By undergoing training in their business partner's culture, staff can spend less time second-guessing cultural norms and instead enjoy a truly productive, respectful relationship built on common ground.
What are the benefits of cultural training in the workplace? ›- It increases productivity. ...
- It improves customer service. ...
- It reduces turnover rates. ...
- It boosts morale. ...
- It helps employees develop skills. ...
- It leads to greater innovation. ...
- It provides a competitive advantage. ...
- It saves money.
So, what is the difference between cultural and cross-cultural psychology? Cultural psychology studies the connection between the mind and body, while cross-cultural psychology examines how specific cultures influence behaviors.
What is the major impact of cross culture? ›Cross-cultural interactions help to develop some important interpersonal skills. Working with people from other cultures develops empathy, acceptance and tolerance. It empowers people to be more open-minded to others' ideas, talents and experiences.
What is cross-cultural awareness? ›Cultural sensitivity, also referred to as cross-cultural sensitivity or cultural awareness, is the knowledge, awareness, and acceptance of other cultures and others' cultural identities.
How to do a cross-cultural training? ›- What to Include. An effective cross-cultural training program should seek to bridge the unseen difference between one's expectations and reality. ...
- Communication Methods. ...
- Management Styles. ...
- Hierarchy Perception. ...
- Relationships Expectations. ...
- Others. ...
- Effective Presentation.
- Get to Know Each Team Member. ...
- Adopt Flexibility. ...
- Promote Open Communication. ...
- Encourage Team Building Activities. ...
- Listen Actively. ...
- Create a Structure for Success. ...
- Address Conflict Immediately. ...
- Create a Cross-Cultural Awareness Program.
- Start with your own bias. ...
- Identify your intentions. ...
- Smile and say hello. ...
- Educate yourself. ...
- Spend time in unfamiliar spaces. ...
- Don't tokenize. ...
- It's not all about you. ...
- Don't appropriate.
Hence, your key cross-cultural awareness training objective is to increase the learners' cultural appreciation and awareness. Developing cultural awareness and appreciation between individuals who don't have a common cultural framework promotes trust, better relationships, and more clear communication.
What are the 3 R's of cultural awareness? ›
When writing your journal, you will be engaging with a development tool (the 3R tool) which guides you with prompts to Report, Reflect and Re-evaluate your experiences. This 3- step tool should help structure your thinking on your experience(s) and help you deepen your intercultural sensitivity and competence.
What are the four pillars of cross-cultural management? ›According to the studied sources CCM consist of four main pillars: initially it was a part of (1) psychology, then touching (2) anthropology, later combining these with business practice related challenges, mostly (3) international business and (4) strategic management.
What are the 3 basics of a learning culture? ›The beliefs that a learning culture sits upon are about the power of the collective conversation, the ability to learn better ways of doing things together, and that our role is to always to seek to evolve as a collective.
What are the 5 elements of culture? ›The major elements of culture are symbols, language, norms, values, and artifacts. Language makes effective social interaction possible and influences how people conceive of concepts and objects.
What is cross-cultural differences in the workplace? ›Cross-cultural communication involves understanding the similarities and differences of people from different cultural backgrounds and groups to better communicate information and engage with them. This type of verbal and nonverbal communication is essential as businesses focus on increasing workplace diversity.
How do people develop cross-cultural skills? ›Aside from learning about culture and people through reading books, watching movies, or attending classes, you can try gaining experiences. As clichéd as it may sound, having firsthand knowledge about another culture is the best teacher, if not immersion.
What are the 5 dimension of cross culture? ›He identified five dimensions or 'problem areas' which represent differences among national cultures (Hofstede, 1997): power distance, uncertainty avoidance, individualism/collectivism, masculinity/femininity and long-term orientation.
What is an example of cross-training work? ›Cross-training is the practice of training your people to work in several different roles, or training them to do tasks that lie outside their normal responsibilities. For instance, you might use cross-training to teach someone who works in Collections how to work in the Billing Department, and vice versa.
What is an example of cross-cultural interaction? ›Cross-Cultural Communication Examples
If a person does not like a proposal or proposition, they would actually agree, but with a qualifier. They would say yes to an unacceptable proposal, then counter with a more acceptable one.
Some common examples of cross-training include: runners using cycling as an alternative exercise to build and maintain endurance. swimmers practicing rowing to keep up their exercise capacity and work similar muscle groups. football players running to build endurance or lifting weights to build size and strength.
What are two examples of cultural activities? ›
- Arts & Health. ...
- Dancing and dance residencies. ...
- Drawing, painting, and crafts. ...
- Music and singing. ...
- Photography and film. ...
- Poetry in Parks. ...
- Pottery and ceramics. ...
- Woodworking.
The value of cross-training in the workplace ranges from increased flexibility and adaptability to improved collaboration and employee satisfaction. By implementing cross-training programs, you can develop a more versatile workforce that is better prepared to meet evolving business needs and drive success.
What is the difference between training and cross-training? ›Strength training is a form of exercise that uses resistance, such as weights or body weight, to build muscle and increase overall strength. Cross-training, on the other hand, involves participating in different types of physical activities outside of running to enhance overall fitness and reduce the risk of injury.
What is another word for cross-training at work? ›Another word for cross-training employees is "multiskilling." This term refers to the process of teaching employees multiple skills or competencies outside of their usual job responsibilities to increase their versatility and ability to work in different roles or functions within the organization.
What are 3 examples of cultural differences in the workplace? ›- Religion. ...
- Ethnicity. ...
- Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity. ...
- Education. ...
- Generation. ...
- Cultural Behavior. ...
- Educational Clash. ...
- Ensure Effective Communication.
Cross training has a fantastic range of benefits, regardless of what your training goals may be. By incorporating it into your workout regime, you can lose weight more quickly, reduce your risk of injury, improve your total fitness and help you stick to your exercise regimen.
What are 5 benefits of cross-training? ›- Produces more collaborative employees. ...
- Brings significant return on investment. ...
- Creates workforce sustainability. ...
- Increases employee engagement. ...
- Improves productivity and efficiency. ...
- Makes companies more agile. ...
- Establishes scheduling flexibility. ...
- Facilitates succession planning.
By crossing over into another element of training this creates a more rounded set of skills that the body can call on when needed. An example of cross training would be adding occasional running to a cyclist's training plan.
What are 5 examples of cultural practices? ›- Religious and spiritual practices.
- Medical treatment practices.
- Forms of artistic expression.
- Dietary preferences and culinary practices.
- Cultural institutions (see also Cultural Institutions Studies)
- Natural resource management.
- Housing and construction.
- Childcare practices.
Cultural programming can take many forms, including: festivals, monthly arts and music events, open studio sessions, celebrations of cultural and ethnic experiences unique to an area.
Can you give some examples of activities about cultural diversity? ›
- Create a Cultural Passport. ...
- Explore Diverse Literature, Art, and Music. ...
- Visit Your Library. ...
- Start an Open Dialogue. ...
- Build Connections with Other Students.