By Ángela Colón, Account Executive, Dialogue

In 2019, I decided to leave my home in Bogota and move to Canada to study a Master’s Degree in Intercultural and International Communications at Royal Roads University in British Columbia. It represented an incredible opportunity for me to grow personally and professionally and immerse myself in a new culture. I have always been interested in foreign cultures and international relations. I knew that going to Canada could fulfill my dream: spending time with people from other countries, learning from others and sharing my way of life with them.

Those experiences were critical during a work opportunity at the Intercultural Association of Business Communicators in Toronto. Cultural exchange foments new perspectives and ideas within organizations.

As a result of this opportunity, I want to share a lesson I learned for communications practitioners: when working in a diverse cultural environment, it is important to take the best from each culture to create winning teams. 

According to research in the Journal of International Business Studies, cultural diversity at work groups lead to more creativity, innovation and adaptability. How can we spot these cultural exchange opportunities? 

For example, in Colombia, the ‘high context communication’ is the most popular way of communicating. In this style, the meaning is embedded within the conversation and we often use small talk before getting down to business.

At IABC/Toronto, one of our team leaders once suggested keeping an eye on the ‘low context communication’ as an opportunity for direct and precise communication. The insight from this cultural nuance was a new way for me to facilitate the interaction between teammates and to create proximity and adapt more quickly. 

Family heritage, way of working, even sayings are little elements that can impact the flow of work and the way teams learn. In Latin America for example, the experience of sharing a cup of coffee in the middle of a brainstorming session can increase bonding and spark creativity.  

Cultural nuances should always be taken into account when working with an international team, especially for understanding different points of view and contexts. Team building, affinity and acculturation is a continuous process. We all have something unique to bring to the table, and we can all and should learn from each other.