About This Course
Every workplace brings together individuals with different backgrounds, experiences, values and perspectives. These differences can enrich an organization by introducing new ideas, creativity and skills. Understanding and respecting those differences is essential for building positive working relationships.
This practical course helps participants explore the meaning of culture and its influence on workplace communication, teamwork, customer service and performance. Participants examine cultural assumptions, communication barriers and the importance of treating people as individuals rather than relying on stereotypes.
Through self-assessment, discussion and interactive activities, participants explore approaches to mentoring, leadership, performance evaluation and conflict resolution across cultural differences. The course also introduces Hofstede's cultural dimensions as a framework for discussing cultural perspectives while recognizing that every individual is unique.
Learning Objectives
This course is designed to help participants:
- Recognize how understanding cultural diversity can enhance customer service and improve workplace productivity.
- Develop more effective communication skills across cultural differences.
- Identify and address misunderstandings and conflicts that may arise from different cultural backgrounds.
- Explore Hofstede's cultural dimensions to gain a better understanding of cultural perspectives and their influence on workplace interactions.
Topics Covered
- Self-assessment of your understanding of cultural diversity in the workplace
- You're Already an Expert - recognizing your own cultural experiences
- Understanding culture and its influence on behavior
- Cultural diversity in the workplace
- Communication across cultures and improved performance
- Attracting and retaining the people your organization needs
- Mentoring, age and attitudes toward authority
- Making cultural differences work positively
- Performance evaluation across cultural differences
- Understanding and resolving workplace conflicts
- Assessing your organization's approach to cultural diversity
Supporting Training Resources
The existing course includes interactive exercises, discussion materials and supplementary resources designed to help participants explore cultural differences and develop greater awareness of their influence in the workplace.
- Line Up Icebreaker
- How Different Cultures Learn
- A Way of Thinking About a Culture - Practical Exercise
- Hofstede's Cultural Dimensions
- Culture and Communication - Discussion Handout
- Cultural Diversity Video Clips
- Review Materials
- Examination with Answer Key
These resources encourage participants to reflect on their own cultural perspectives, explore different approaches to communication and learning, and discuss ways to build more respectful and effective workplace relationships.
Final contents of the Training-to-Go package, including any third-party materials, are currently being reviewed.