Just Because You're Right, Doesn't Mean They're Wrong

What's wrong with this map?  Please look carefully.

If your initial reaction was that “it’s upside-down”, you would be in the clear majority based on my experience in asking this question.

But why is it upside-down? The writing is not upside-down. The cardinal directions are identified correctly. Is it because the Southern Hemisphere is on top? Is it simply because this perspective makes you feel uncomfortable? It may be that you have always just seen it with North on top and that's what feels right. But who decided that North should always be on top? Well, there is an answer to that question – it was the people who lived in the North, specifically European cartographers who gave us our modern maps.

My assertion is that there is nothing wrong with this map. It is not “upside down”, it is simply a “southern orientation map”. In fact, based on my experience, if you live in the Southern Hemisphere you probably love this map, and have very possibly seen some variation of it before.

This is a picture of an actual map I keep on the wall of my office*. I love the map for two reasons:

1. I often get to have the cool conversation about what’s wrong with it, or actually what’s not wrong with it. People will often tilt their heads and say, “your map is upside-down”. A wonderful discussion ensues. Sometimes people come into my office a dozen times or more and never notice (they see exactly what they have been conditioned to see), until one day they do. It’s always enjoyable, at least for me.
2. More importantly, it is a constant reminder to me that just because something has always been done a certain way, does not mean that it is the only right way to do it. Just because the way we do things feels comfortable does not mean there are not alternative ways that are at least as correct, maybe even better if we gave them a chance. It’s a reminder to me that opening our minds to new and different concepts is liberating and rewarding, and we can learn so much in the process.

Discovering and Valuing Other Cultures

This concept easily applies to culture. Among the many definitions of culture, we could say that it is the collective way that a group of people feels comfortable doing things. Consequently, experiencing the way things are done in cultures different from our own can feel uncomfortable, just like this map feels uncomfortable to many people.

This phenomenon can be largely explained by the principle of “ethnocentrism”, which is the belief that our way of doing things is the best way, and then seeing all other cultures through this lens of superiority. Ethnocentrism can apply to countries, organizations, religions, etc. – any group that has a common culture. And all cultures are ethnocentric – meaning that everybody is more comfortable doing it their own way - and also that they find outsiders to be strange. But the truth is that there is not only one right way. I love this poem Rudyard Kipling which summarized it so well:

We and They

All good people agree,

And all good people say,

All nice people, like Us, are We

And every one else is They:

But if you cross over the sea,

Instead of over the way,

You may end by (think of it!) looking on We

As only a sort of They!

A Culture Journey

I first learned this lesson in a meaningful way as a young American expatriate HR manager in Indonesia. I had just come from Mexico, a place I had also lived as a child and where the culture felt very comfortable and natural for me. As a training professional there I really understood how to get people to participate and learn. When I arrived to Indonesia, I quickly found that everything that had worked for me in Mexico now failed completely. At first I was confused. Had I lost my touch? Were the people just incompetent? Then it occurred to me that perhaps there was a cultural element that I was missing. I hired myself a culture coach and started to learn about dimensions of culture. I quickly learned that there was neither nothing wrong with me nor them, only that we didn't understand each other (and I don't mean in terms of language). What Mexicans interpreted as inspiring and thought provoking had the opposite effect for Indonesians. Mexicans like challenging, spirited and participative interactions during training sessions. Indonesians like indirect, thoughtful, well-prepared and less participative sessions. In this regard, they were really quite opposites. Once I adapted my style to the Indonesian culture we ended up having training sessions just as productive as Mexico -- perhaps even better.

Then I found a book that changed my life forever: “Riding the Waves of Culture” by Fons Trompenaars. Trompenaars writes about several cultural dimensions and where different cultures tend to fall within these dimensions. I started to understand why Mexicans, Americans and Indonesians (and others) behaved the way they did from a cultural perspective. I loved the book so much I set out to try to memorize it – I didn’t necessarily succeed, but the principles have always stuck with me.

Now I find absolute pleasure in trying to understand the behaviors of different cultures. Understanding the “why” behind the behavior can help us truly understand where people are coming from, how to see things differently, and then truly benefit from the true diversity of people. As a Human Resources professional and as a business leader, this has benefited me in so many ways throughout my career. Understanding why groups of people behave the way they do is really essential to the job I do, no matter where I have found myself working.

Here is a more recent publication co-authored by one of my favorite culture gurus, Dave Eaton, that illustrates how understanding culture can help us better succeed in our global organizations. 

The True Value of Diversity

Since my experience in Indonesia I have had the pleasure of living in Canada, mainland China and Hong Kong, as well as travelling extensively throughout the world for both work and pleasure. I find absolute joy in meeting people who see and do things differently. It’s like seeing an “upside-down” map in every facet of life. Understanding their perspectives is not just interesting, it has also helped me see new and better ways to do things. For me this is the true value of diversity, everybody examining and considering different perspectives and coming up with the best answers for the challenges they face. It’s not easy work. It’s often very uncomfortable. But the rewards are unmistakable, and we can end up finding solutions to problems we never imagined possible.

*Map is produced by ODT

Brian Walker is an International Human Resources executive with significant experience in Latin America, Asia Pacific and Europe.  He is passionate about strategic HR, transformational HR and culture. Brian currently resides in Flower Mound, Texas.