The Big Problem With Cultural Differences

There’s something that’s bothered me ever since the 1990’s when I was writing my Ph.D. dissertation about adapting behavior across cultures.

?The cross-cultural field is obsessed with cultural differences.

In some cases, these differences are about rituals and routines: such as whether one is expected to bow or shake hands in a foreign culture, or how one is expected to exchange a business card.

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In other cases, the focus is on deeper aspects of difference, such as differences in time or space, or values such as individualism and collectivism.

But focusing on differences alone can have its downsides.

For one thing, there’s a decent chance you’ll be wrong!?

The Italian employee you anticipate being late for meetings turns out to be the most punctual person on your team, and the Asian consultant you just hired and anticipated having to mentor about participating in meetings actually ends up being the most outgoing and assertive person in the room.

Focusing on differences can also be quite mentally taxing.

Think about it:

You walk into a room and your mind races with all the different cultural differences you need to remember —?that you’re not supposed to do X, Y, or Z and that your partners from another culture may be doing A, B, or C, and each of these behaviors has a specific meaning in that culture that’s different from yours. It’s enough to make your head spin!

Instead of focusing on differences, how about thinking in terms of similarities -

—?on what you have in common, instead of what you don’t. This is the approach we take in our new book (launching this week!) Forging Bonds in a Global Workforce.

Our book focuses on the challenge of building strong connections across cultures. It's based in science; is super practical; and is an easy and fun read.

We really hope you’ll pick yourself up a copy - and if you do, please let me know what you think!??

Until next time, Andy

PS: Here is what some early readers think about the book

Andy and Melissa have written an insightful playbook for people living or working with colleagues outside of their home country. It is filled with stories that illustrate how to navigate cultural nuances and individual personalities to build deep meaningful connections and relationships. I wish I had it available earlier in my career.

Rhonda Morris, Vice President & Chief Human Resources Officer, Chevron Corporation

In this engaging new book, Molinsky and Hahn provide powerful, practical approaches to developing the skills you need to thrive in our multicultural world. Solidly researched and full of relatable real-life stories, Forging Bonds in a Global Workforce is a much-needed guidebook for thriving in today’s workplace.

Amy Edmondson, Novartis Professor of Leadership, Harvard Business School, and author of Right Kind of Wrong: The Science of Failing Well

?Building connections across cultures is an increasingly important skill. This book is filled with actionable, data-driven advice on how to do it more effectively. Wherever you work, you’ll come away with some new ideas on how to bridge divides and build trust.

Adam Grant, number one New York Times bestselling author of Hidden Potential and Think Again and host of the podcast Re:Thinking

If you’re looking to enhance your ability to connect and collaborate with colleagues from different cultural backgrounds, this book is an indispensable tool and a must-read.

Marshall Goldsmith, Thinkers50 #1 Executive Coach and New York Times bestselling author of The Earned Life, Triggers, and What Got You Here Won’t Get You There

This book is more than just a theoretical guide; it provides a practical road map for building and nurturing cross-cultural relationships in the real world.

Erin Meyer, Professor of Management, INSEAD, and author of the bestselling book The Culture Map: Breaking Through the Invisible Boundaries of Global Business