5 Strategies For Cross-Cultural Communication Across Global Teams

A 2022 Gallup study discovered that disengaged employees in organizations cost the world an astounding $8.8 trillion in lost productivity. Conversely, the same study found that teams who are more engaged witness higher productivity, by as much as 18 percent.

In today’s increasingly expanding global workforce, which has accelerated in growth since the pandemic, it becomes even more critical to understand how to maximize team productivity, whether you are an employee or business leader. Knowing how to navigate effective communication across cross-cultural teams, or even stakeholders and clients, is critical to ensuring efficient collaboration, high performance, talent attraction, and expansion into new geographical markets.

Here are five key strategies to communicating across teams in multiple locations:

Cultivate cultural awareness

Nationality, ethnicity, and location are all factors that heavily influence the way a speaker relays a message, and the manner in which that message is comprehended and internalized. Therefore your first priority should be to recognize that cultural differences do exist, and then educate yourself and seek to become acquainted with these cultures and their unique characteristics.

You can research online, but one of the best ways to show that you truly care and and empathize with your offshore colleague is to be inquisitive and demonstrate curiosity in casual your interactions with them. Learn about their traditions, communication preferences and styles, values, and any religious holidays that effect their work patterns. In this way you build a stronger rapport and working relationship, becoming closer knit with your global work family.

Be sensitive and flexible in your approach

As you seek to understand cultural differences and appreciate the diverse perspectives they bring to the table, this knowledge should inform your communication approach. Be sensitive and flexible in your communication style. Some words or phrases that you could easily get away with saying in your location, may be considered offensive to the receiver in another country. If in doubt, rephrase to avoid slangs and to be clearer in your conversation style, bearing in mind any possible language barriers.

Challenge stereotypes

We easily succumb to unconscious bias and stereotypical ideas about a group of people because of their ethnicity or location, based on societal standards, upbringing, or education. Unfortunately, these can foster discrimination, inhibit team growth, and prevent thriving cultures. The next time you are disposed to crack a joke (or participate in one) at your overseas team’s expense, stop yourself and challenge your thinking. Don’t be afraid to stand in their defence if something might be considered an inappropriate remark. If you’re not sure of a fact, or assume something is the case just because that is what everyone is inclined to believe, do some research and ask the colleague in question. You may be surprised to learn that a belief you held for years was an unfounded assumption!

Ask questions

When communicating with someone you are unfamiliar with, asking questions is critical to ensuring mutual understanding and preventing team hiccups later, which result in missed deadlines and decelerated progress with projects. Asking a combination of closed and open-ended questions to clarify is a key practice in active listening, and ensures smooth business relationships and more efficient solutions.

Patience is key

While applying these strategies, remember to be patient throughout the process. It might not be easy at first, and you may make a few honest blunders, but be patient with yourself and your team, embracing the journey of inclusivity and growth together. Especially when working through language barriers, allow time for mutual understanding to be developed and make the other person feel comfortable in the process.

Cultural differences across global teams are one of your biggest assets. They are not disadvantages that will slow you down or hinder your business growth; they are your strengths that fuel innovation, creativity, and market reach through diverse perspectives from their unique cultural lenses. Embrace the diversity your global teams have to offer. Collaborate and seek to understand them; don’t paint them all with the same stroke.