My Most Frustrating Culture Clash
Farid Elashmawi, Global Success
San Jose, California, USAPurpose and learning objective
To enhance multicultural team building across several important international cultures. The exercise serves:
To point out that culture clash can always occur
To analyze why culture clash occurs, and determine how to avoid or resolve it
To break the ice among new team members by sharing encounters that frustrated them personally in the past
Target audience
Business executives and managers who work with various cultures as managers, negotiators, salespersons, trainers, or in other capacities. 20 persons or less is ideal.
Time
30 minutes
Materials
There are no special materials or environmental considerations.
Procedure
1. Divide the participants into groups of 3 to 4 persons.
2. Give them these instructions:
Take turns in your group recalling the most frustrating or interesting culture clash that you have encountered or personally experienced while communicating with someone from another culture (during a meeting, telephone conversation, negotiation, social event, etc.).
Other members in the group will then try to explain to the person whose story it is why it happened and how it could have been avoided.
3. Ask each group to present the team’s most interesting story to the whole class.
4. Invite feedback and comments from other groups.
Debrief
Point out that culture clash occurs all the time, as we go about our daily activities. If you encounter a problem, think first whether cultural differences have anything to do with it before you give up or start to blame others. Enjoy your next encounter!
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