Course 2: Becoming a 7 Cups Leader - (Discussion #10) Diversity, Cultural Differences, and Second Language Learners

@VerseArt

Yup. We should accept each other's opinions.

@VerseArt

Great answer!!

@VerseArt

well said

@Heather225

Please list some advantages of a diverse team.

• Diversity brings different perspectives, ideas, and strategies that can increase creativity.
• The more diverse we are, the more people we're able to help. (E.g. there'll be people I might struggle to help that others are able to help more easily because of their different background/skills/personality/time zone, and vice versa.)
• Interacting with people from another culture gradually increases my own familiarity/comfort with that culture and increases the likelihood of me being able to provide helpful support to people from that culture

How can we be respectful of different cultures on 7 Cups?

• Question stereotypes and try to engage with the person in front of you rather than seeing them through the lens of pre-existing assumptions.
• Understand that different people may have a variety of opinions, beliefs, and ideas; allow those perspectives to coexist without trying to enforce homogeneity.
• Be mindful of different time zones when scheduling things; try to make it possible for everyone to participate.
• Try to cater to people for whom English isn't a first language:
  • Rephrase with simpler words if needed
  • Be forgiving of accidental tonality issues
  • Avoid regional slang/idioms that might not be understood by everyone
  • Provide specific/targeted feedback if there's a recurring English issue that affects someone's ability to do their work

Just sharing something I remember coming across in one of my college classes years ago, in case if it's of interest. A social psychologist named Geert Hofstede came up with a model of cultural differences that has six dimensions.

***

1) Individualism is the extent to which people feel independent, as opposed to being interdependent as members of larger wholes.

Individualism does not mean egoism. It means that individual choices and decisions are expected. Collectivism does not mean closeness. It means that one "knows one's place" in life, which is determined socially. With a metaphor from physics, people in an individualistic society are more like atoms flying around in a gas while those in collectivist societies are more like atoms fixed in a crystal.

2) Power Distance is the extent to which the less powerful members of organizations and institutions (like the family) accept and expect that power is distributed unequally.

This dimension is thought to date from the advent of agriculture, and with it, of large-scale societies. Until that time, a person would know their group members and leaders personally. This is not possible where tens of thousands and more have to coordinate their lives. Without acceptance of leadership by powerful entities, none of today's societies could run.

3) Masculinity is the extent to which the use of force in endorsed socially.

In a masculine society, men are supposed to be tough. Men are supposed to be from Mars, women from Venus. Winning is important for both genders. Quantity is important and big is beautiful. In a feminine society, the genders are emotionally closer. Competing is not so openly endorsed, and there is sympathy for the underdog.

This is NOT about individuals, but about expected emotional gender roles. Masculine societies are much more openly gendered than feminine societies.

4) Uncertainty avoidance deals with a societys tolerance for uncertainty and ambiguity.

Uncertainty avoidance has nothing to do with risk avoidance, nor with following rules. It has to do with anxiety and distrust in the face of the unknown, and conversely, with a wish to have fixed habits and rituals, and to know the truth.

5) Long-term orientation deals with change.

In a long-time-oriented culture, the basic notion about the world is that it is in flux, and preparing for the future is always needed. In a short-time-oriented culture, the world is essentially as it was created, so that the past provides a moral compass, and adhering to it is morally good. As you can imagine, this dimension predicts life philosophies, religiosity, and educational achievement.

6) Indulgence is about the good things in life.

In an indulgent culture it is good to be free. Doing what your impulses want you to do, is good. Friends are important and life makes sense. In a restrained culture, the feeling is that life is hard, and duty, not freedom, is the normal state of being.

Source: https://geerthofstede.com/culture-geert-hofstede-gert-jan-hofstede/6d-model-of-national-culture/

@QuietMagic

Wow thank you so much for sharing them.

@QuietMagic

Thats very informative, thanks for sharing :)

@QuietMagic

That's a lot of good and important information, thanks for sharing!

@QuietMagic

that was a great reading, thanks for sharing the research! i'll most assuredly check for more info on it *-*

@QuietMagic

that's very informative, thanks

@QuietMagic

This is an amazing response! I love how you mentioned questioning stereotypes, and engaging with them instead of assuming.

@QuietMagic

awesome answer Magic.

Please list some advantages of a diverse team.

Diversity

Creativity

Multiple perspective for solving a problem.

How can we be respectful of different cultures on 7 Cups?

We have to be mindful of the time zones.

Make sure our words aren't misleading and appreciate others.

@Petrichor2000

Time zone is something i missed.

Great points btw

@Magicallykermit58

Thank you.

Please list some advantages of a diverse team.

Being part of a diverse team teaches us a lot about people. Like nature of a person, cultural/religion/region can have a significant effect on how a person acts and reacts in a given situation. So working in an environment with people from different background helps us understand and work on common ground and also to bridge gaps when required. This intern helps us grow as human beings. We learn lot of values and to respect one another.

How can we be respectful of different cultures on 7 Cups?

We need to understand and respect people and their belief . Never to disrespect others for what they believe in or have faith in or the color of their skin.

@Magicallykermit58 I agree that it is crucial to understand others and not just tolerate them. We can grow so much more if we actively seek out others' perspectives.

Please list some advantages of a diverse team.
Having a diverse team enables the whole team to support and learn from each other. As listeners, it's our job to constantly seek out ways to embrace other cultures/viewpoints to better support members. Additionally, it helps those with cultural/religious specifities find the support they need. It also helps drive us forward in innovation and skill sets!
How can we be respectful of different cultures on 7 Cups?
We can rise above the stereotypes, be respectful of beliefs, be mindful of schedules and availability (THIS ONE IS SO IMPORTANT), and recognize other cultural holidays.

@CompassionateDreamer8522 I appreciate your emphasis on the importance of availability!

@CompassionateDreamer8522

These are very good points, I find it important that you mentioned the point of embracing other cultures as listeners. I believe we can only truly support if we embrace others.

Please list some advantages of a diverse team.

A diverse team is able to address a broader range of issues and perspectives since there are so many different experiences that can come together. There is more growth and creativity in a diverse team.

How can we be respectful of different cultures on 7 Cups?

We can be open-minded, curious, and compassionate.

@JaimieF Like how you answered the second question! Great one!

@JaimieF - great answer :)

Please list some advantages of a diverse team.

1.Provide full and proper respect for every user

2.Means more ideas from a different culture

3. Stronger creativity

4. Eliminate stereotype and create a more stable environment

How can we be respectful of different cultures on 7 Cups?

First, I think we should have some supervisors to monitor these improper behaviours, I know respect should come from each individual sincerely, however, we can't let everyone do something. Second, we should make our team more diverse, so that can benefit the whole community. Last, we should have activities regard to each culture on 7 Cups, to let more people get closer to each culture.

@Irena0225

Activites regarding specific cultures sounds like a great idea!

Please list some advantages of a diverse team.

A huge advantage within a diverse team is creativity.Creativity allows more solutions with different perspectives for more growth and better results.

How can we be respectful of different cultures on 7 Cups?

It is important to be respectful with different cultures because we all come from different walks of life but we are all -human beings. So different yet so similar. Different culture require patience and understanding to blend together and create a new different beautiful colour.

@crystalclearnow

Wonderfully put! Let's all blend together!

@freshMint9376

@Heather225

Please list some advantages of a diverse team.

Some advantages of a diverse team are a larger and broader range of perspectives, the ability to reach people outside of our own community/culture, the ability to help people in other time zones and the chance to learn about different cultures!

How can we be respectful of different cultures on 7 Cups? We can be respectful of different cultures by rising above stereotypes, being respectful of different beliefs and consider time differences!

@LittleBirdie30

Awesome response, I agree!

@Heather225

Please list some advantages of a diverse team.

-It provide rooms for increased creativity as said by Edward Enninful
"I can tell you, without diversity, creativity remains stagnant"

How can we be respectful of different cultures on 7 Cups?

-We can be respectful of different cultures on 7cups by considering other people cultural differences in Communication and interaction. And by being open to other people idea and willingness to know about it. Inquisitiveness and desire to see situation and response through another person's cultural lense is another way to respect and value others culture.

@Beaconx

Inquisitiveness is a great point!

Well done 👏

Please list some advantages of a diverse team.

New perspectives! Learn about different cultures and practices! Our members are diverse people. so our listeners and leaders should be as well!

How can we be respectful of different cultures on 7 Cups?

Always give the benefit of the doubt. What might seem disrespectful in your culture might be okay in someone else's.

@freshMint9376

Love your response! Giving the benefit of the doubt can be really helpful.

@freshMint9376

Ooh, I love that you included "always give the benefit of doubt" because in all situations it is always good to not assume the worst in people and instead to think of the possible reasons behind it. New perspectives and appealing to the more diverse people are also super important :) Also, I completely agree that there are a lot of things that might be disrespectful in our culture but is actually good in another, and as you mentioned, a benefit of doubt is always good!

@DayDreamWithYou

"giving benefit of doubt" yes i love it too. As it give chance to open up our mind and ready to listen other or room to understand them.

Good answer

Please list some advantages of a diverse team.

-A diverse team means that people might have different perspectives, which can lead to different types of ideas, and way more creativity.
-A diverse team can also allow you to learn about different cultures/beliefs/ideals, which can be really helpful in all situations knowing about different types of people, and can help you grow in different skills.
-We can also reach more people outside of our own culture.

How can we be respectful of different cultures on 7 Cups?

-Rise above stereotypes! This is a really important one, sometimes we hear a stereotype and immediately believe that all people that are associated with that culture fit in that stereotype. This also includes "positive stereotypes."
-Respect individuals beliefs. Accept that e people might have different beliefs from yours, and that is okay! Don't push your beliefs on others, and accept that someone might not be comfortable with a certain task of it contradicts their beliefs.
-Consider time zones! Since there are people from all over the world, a tome that works for you might not work for someone else because of time differences.