Here's how you can connect and forge relationships with professionals from diverse backgrounds.

Be honest. Find commonalities not differences. We all have much more in common than we realize. Ask about family, personal history, mutual friends and interests. Be genuinely interested. Don't be selling all the time.

Empathize, listen and ask questions. I like to start by understanding the culture, boundaries and what they are seeking to gain from our professional relationship. It is not to emphasize that a relationship is transactional but understanding how we can balance each other's needs and be there for each other professionally :)

In my experience of 50 years in the thermal dynamics / energy production industry while traveling around the planet being prepared to lead by example being fair and impartial to every employee. The goal should be a balance of addressing the needs of the whole and maintaining an open system of meeting the requirements.a high level of quality and safety. Diversifying means balancing training to keep the best qualified and challenging our best and brightest to duplicate themselves. Productivity through honesty, integrity, and zero tolerance for division or discrimination from the top down. “A rising tide will lift all ships.”….building a team means we stress this with a top down mindset with strict fairness illustrating our commitment .

A professional who doesn’t recognise diversity is lost and denying him/herself a wide, broad world of wealth. Because in embracing, acknowledging and recognising diversity, one opens up to an otherwise unknown milieu. Understanding how others who are different from you in all aspects of life but education, is growth and will breed tolerance as well as spontaneous acceptance. There is nothing off-putting and embarrassing than a stereotyped, narrow -minded academic.

Why do we chase after mantra's? Business' pride themselves on having policies, DEI, EEO, LGBTQ... etc. However, why not show off the results of those policies? I never hired someone because of their race, or sex. I hired people because of what I believed could be their future contribution to the organization. Yes, they had to be qualified, and yes they had to hit the ground running, but they also had to be able to help us be the best at what we were trying to achieve as an organization.

I’ve found it incredibly helpful to be reminded that the Golden Rule doesn’t always apply. Not everyone wishes to be treated the way I do because not everyone is from the same culture as I. Ask questions and do your research prior to connection and build a better foundation for your relationship.

In my experience learning Chinese and Russian, I have come to understand how body language can be interpreted differently in Russia and how business is conducted in a different manner in China. It's important for us to be aware of our differences. Just as we don't appreciate it when someone disrupts our way of doing things, the same goes for others.

An example I've seen is having international luncheons I feel that there's an overlap with the foods we eat I think ?? we can ? exchange ?? recipes I want to believe that you and I have more similarities than differences I intend to keep researching this

Being prepared and reaching is very important and helpful, but when that fails remember that kindness and being attentive is universal. When you realize that you have made a mistake that is 100%, just acknowledge it, clarify what the right approach would be, apologize, and continue.

I’ve taken graduate level courses on this exact topic and I assure you that if you woukd like to be successful in anything that involves global citizens, especially forging relationships researching and discovering the nuance of other cultures and groups of people is paramount to your success. The world is not homogenous nor are the customs, beliefs and behaviors of all of us.

To this I offer something, perhaps controversial - People, stop forcing relationships Stop forcing others to network when they’re “not into it” - it will only ruin it for when the time actually comes that they are interested. Introverts, don’t feel obligated or compelled to follow the advice of your extroverted friends, colleagues and mentors. Don’t put yourself in a situation you abhor and are not ready to embrace. Yea, take risks and be vulnerable - BUT stay in control of your own decision making power- don’t be bullied or pressured. Do you

It is important to listen not only for something but actively listen to what the other person is saying without thinking of our immediate response. Actively listening shows that you care about what they have to bring to the conversation and will allow that connection to deepen over time.

Active listening requires the listener to be self aware - without being self focused. Acknowledging our biases, tone, body language and attitude are essential parts of active listening. I want to know that you are engaging with me entirely.

It is imperative to never distract from the main goal of active listening which is to create a safe environment for the individual to speak freely. A major barrier to active listening is a judgmental response; this may lead to defensiveness, distrust, or shutting down.

Perhaps I woukd label this question the low hanging fruit and most important skill/trait, etc… excelling here will bring you bonus points and forgiveness for other missteps in some of these other questions. Nothing is more important than feeling heard, valued, important - whatever. Even if you didn’t do any research and exercised poor culturally appropriate skills of engagement - as long as you are kind, genuine and sincerely listening, seemingly interested in the other party they will forgive just about anything

Many people mistakenly believe that in the professional arena, one should remain strictly professional and not share personal aspects of their lives. In reality, sharing personal stories that provide value and inspiration to others is one of the best strategies for personal branding. Personal stories are also vital in bridging cultural gaps. We often perceive distant cultures through stereotypes, but when we learn about the personal and human stories of individuals, it helps us connect on a fundamental, human level. This connection aids in better remembering each other, finding common ground, and fostering mutual learning and growth.

Sharing our personal stories will put our common human experience into focus. All people laugh and cry, endure suffering and celebrate successes. Such bonds can form strong and enduring relationships, demystify motives and objectives, and open us to new perspectives.

Sharing stories, whether positive or negative will enhance everyone’s knowledge, understanding and all future encounters, collaboration and seamless networking. Share can take many forms; individual, group discussions, presentations via webinars (not favoured as eye-to/eye contact is also one way of observing gestures, the non-verbals) or seminars. Research and community engagement included.

This!!! Sharing stories connects us in so many ways. Yes. It’s important to be aware of and open minded to diversity. While being open minded to what’s different, be open to how we share so many similarities across cultures. Be cognizant of how to be agile and accepting of other cultures. But also remember no one culture is of a monolith. Meeting one person of another culture does not make them the representative of the entire community. Be equitably invested in all people, every time you meet them. Share the stories. Seek to understand the differences. Look forward to what you may have in common.

A genuine connection develops over the years. While initial meetings often uncover new insights as you get to know each other, the true value of embracing new cultures and ideas lies in maintaining long-term relationships. By nurturing these connections, you expand your network and ensure that when interesting opportunities arise, these individuals will share them with you (and you will do the same for them).