Leaning In to Cultural Experiences: Lessons from My Journey to India

During the past 10 days, I had the privilege of visiting my colleagues and teams based in India. It was an exhilarating trip that took me to five cities in just seven full days. In each location, I continuously told myself to lean into every experience to make the most out of my trip and build bonds with my colleagues. I learned some Hindi, tried countless delicious dishes, savored a "real" mango lassi , gave a cross-country singing tour, and danced Bollywood style to fabulous music!

The journey began with a couple of sightseeing excursions to temples (Taj Mahal ) and sacred places (Mahabalipuram ) in Agra and Chennai. Throughout the week, I visited teams in Chennai, Hyderabad, Mumbai, and Gurugram. In each city, I was deeply impressed by the hospitality, excitement, and energy of my colleagues.

There were several customs that were new to me, including the ceremonial guest greeting at each office where the teams painted a dot of honor on my forehead. In Mumbai, we wore traditional Indian attire, and I put on a kurta for the first time. Each city offered long days that ended with equally long nights of singing, dancing, and celebrating with the teams. In the US, it's hard to imagine myself, let alone my boss, going to a restaurant or bar and dancing to high-tempo (Bollywood) music with our teams. There's a certain amount of professional separation that I feel we maintain there. In India, however, I kept telling myself to lean into all of these experiences because they meant so much to my teammates. I felt like I was there primarily to engage with and create bonds with my local colleagues since we only have such limited time to do so.

It's what I learned during this experience, though, that I'll remember most:

1. There isn't one way to be a business team around the world. In a culture as open and welcoming as India, where people tend to be more social with co-workers, I found a sense of joy in being part of that business and social circle.
2. Creating these bonds opened up conversations with my employees later when we had one-on-one career discussions. I noticed that my employees felt more comfortable being open with me about feedback as well as their career plans.
3. I really enjoyed learning about the rich Indian culture. The importance of dance and song to the Indian people can't be overstated. For a culture that's >5,000 years old, the mix of tradition and modern practices was very impressive.
4. Learning a little bit of Hindi before traveling went a long way! I learned a little bit of Hindi via two books and Duolingo before going, which certainly delighted and surprised everyone. I was even able to read the Devanagari script and understand signs on the airplanes!
5. It was a fantastic opportunity for me to learn about the differences in the local cultures in five cities spread across the subcontinent but also what brings them together as an Indian society, let alone as a corporate culture within our company.

Leaning into discomfort and embracing new cultures can be profoundly rewarding. As author and motivational speaker Brené Brown says,

“You can choose courage, or you can choose comfort, but you cannot choose both.”

This trip to India was a testament to that. By stepping out of my comfort zone, I gained a deeper appreciation for the diversity and richness of another culture.

Furthermore, Olympic swimmer, Michael Phelps, emphasizes the importance of embracing discomfort to be successful:

"The one thing that's common to all successful people: they make a habit of doing things that unsuccessful people don't do."

This was evident in the way my engagement with Indian customs and traditions enhanced my relationship with my team. It opened doors to more honest and meaningful conversations, fostering a stronger sense of trust and camaraderie.

?? THE POINT IS: Embracing cultural experiences, especially when in another country, can lead to profound personal and professional growth. By leaning into discomfort and engaging with local traditions, we can build stronger, more genuine relationships with our global teams. It's not just about visiting another country; it's about immersing ourselves in the culture and creating lasting bonds that transcend borders.

Matt Brooks is a seasoned thought leader and practitioner in data and analytics; culture; product development; and transformation. View additional articles by clicking below; like them/follow him to learn more!