why is cultural competence important in the workplace

Dr. Arlette Herry, assistant dean of multicultural affairs at St. George's University, agreed that cultural competence is of paramount importance in the healthcare system. This cumulative effect of what is done and how it is done ultimately determines an organization's performance. Instead, it includes recognizing and respecting diversity through our words and actions in all contexts. Even students who come from diverse neighborhoods will likely come in contact with new cultures as they enter the Human Services field. For example, there are podcasts with personalities who offer different perspectives on the topic of race and encourage us to have uncomfortable conversations. While individuals may be comfortable sharing information about their own cultures or perspectives, dont assume its their role to educate everyone. Bring us your ambition and well guide you along a personalized path to a quality education thats designed to change your life. Wong, G., Derthick, A. O., David, E. J. R., Saw, A., & Okazaki, S. (2014). When we talk about culture, we mean the distinct beliefs, values and thoughts of groups that include: Cultural competence helps employees communicate and collaborate. (It's difficult to understand another's culture if you aren't familiar with your own.) Take the previous example related to sexual orientation. As organizations become more assorted, they need to have arrangements and best practices set up to help shift foundations and perspectives. Start by learning about your own culture. Yet few studies have explored how professionals perceive cross-cultural educational models (e.g., cultural awareness, cultural competence . Race and Social Problems, 6, 181200. 2) Knowing how aspects of your culture may limit the effectiveness of the work you do with people from other cultures (for example, cultural bias) 3) Knowledge of cultural safety. It involves recognizing the opportunity that we have to remain open-minded with diverse groups. Developing a truly inclusive, culturally competent organizational culture is an ongoing process. Efforts . When people feel seen, heard, and understood, theyre more likely to feel satisfied with their position in the workplace. It is crucial to be aware of our own unconscious biases and remember that we are looking through the lens of our gender, race, economic background, religion, sexual orientation, etc. Consider each of the areas of cultural difference above. The differences are, in part, due to varying degrees of exposure to discrimination and oppression. When employees feel respected and safe to bring their whole selves to work, they are more willing to share innovative ideas, collaborate, and learn from others. Cultural competence describes the ability to effectively interact with people belonging to different cultures. Eliminating roadblocks that stem from cultural misunderstandings can increase efficiency and make people more productive. Here are a few examples that demonstrate its importance: Cultural competency is incredibly important in the field of medicine. The second component of cultural competency is demonstrating empathy. Promoting cultural competence can present challenges. Focus on the behaviors and the situation, not the person. The response that is effective, especially if you are in a situation in which you are responsible for resolving a conflict between two people, requires seeking more information and multiple perspectives first. U.S. Census Bureau (2008). Receive information about the benefits of our programs, the courses you'll take, and what you need to apply. Maria Rosario T. de Guzman, Extension Specialist in Adolescence, Tonia R. Durden, Extension Specialist in Early Childhood Education, Sarah A. Taylor, Graduate Research Assistant. One of the best ways to become culturally competent is to ask questions, and then listen carefully with interest, without any attempt to interrupt or persuade. She recently completed a Master of Information Management, focussing on these concepts. Washington, DC: U.S. Census Bureau. The benefits of promoting a culturally-competent workplace. By actively listening to team members from different walks of life, groups can uncover new solutions to problems. Which ones are important to this conversation? Discussing how you think about deadlines, whether you think of them as fixed and absolute or as flexible, can help meet each others expectations more effectively. What do others see that they arent aware of? Actively listening to an individual allows you to learn about that persons culture and experiences. 247266), in T. D. Nelson (Ed), Handbook of prejudice, stereotyping and discrimination. Cultural competence describes an organizations or individuals practices that allow people from different backgrounds to work together. How Cultural Competence in the Workplace Creates Psychological Safety for Employees, , A Diverse Workforce Produces a Healthy and Profitable Company. The emotion gives evidence of the real intent of the conversation, which will help you identify if the person is upset, inquisitive, or acting on another emotion and allow you to respond appropriately. Research on microaggressions (i.e., regular or daily subtle and minor acts of bias that may be consciously or unconsciously expressed) illustrate this point and show that even subtle incidences can have cumulative and serious consequences for socio-emotional well-being. Some of the barriers to cultural competence in health care include: Adequate Knowledge of an Organization's Cultural Competence. Cultural competence allows a person to understand others perspectives and experiences, but empathy equips them with the ability to communicate their understanding. Dedicating a company to developing culturally competent employees takes careful planning and consistent effort. When surprised by something an employee says or does, a culturally competent manager avoids making a snap judgment. Its especially important not to expect people of color to educate white people about racism. Does my identity change based on context or setting? The what, the why, and the how: A review of racial microaggressions research in psychology. Terms & Conditions. The best way to grow in cultural competence is to immerse yourself in learning about other cultures. Get the Book: Multitouch itunes.apple.com Download PDF 4 MB In the Classroom: User Guide pdf 123 KB Unit Plan Explore the Unit Plan Why Is Cultural Competency Important? The goal of cultural competence in health care settings is to reduce racial, economic, ethnic, and social disparities when meeting a community's health care needs. Social networking sites, blogs, and chat rooms are letting people regularly interact across national borders. This can increase engagement and productivity. Every conversation is a learning opportunity but requires listening to those with different perspectives or experiences. Many industries currently have a significant amount of international collaboration, and careers in many fields increasingly entail working with people from different countries, both directly and indirectly. Heres How to Make It Happen., , What Practices Could You Implement to Increase Cultural Sensitivity & Acceptance in the Workplace?, , 10 Tips to Develop Your Firms Cultural Competence, , For the First Time, Most New Working-Age Hires in the U.S. Are People of Color, Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN to BSN), Incoming Freshman and Graduate Student Admission. According to Diversity Resources, organizational leaders must consider seven essential components of cultural competence: These elements are core to helping professionals fully understand their place within a global workforce and build empathy for how people of different cultures approach their professional experiences. Consider different time zones and holidays when scheduling projects, meetings, and events that incorporate culturally and globally diverse people. Cultural humility speaks to the suspension of judgment and the ability to learn about other cultures. Relationships are what make a business successful, after all. A diverse team is a creative team that brings more than one viewpoint to the table. Heres How to Make It Happen., Houston Chronicle, What Practices Could You Implement to Increase Cultural Sensitivity & Acceptance in the Workplace?, HRDQ, How to Improve Cultural Competence in the Workplace, Inc., 10 Tips to Develop Your Firms Cultural Competence, Pew Research Center, Key Findings About U.S. Immigrants, PsychCentral, Cultural Competence: A Necessary Training for Human Service Professionals, The Washington Post, For the First Time, Most New Working-Age Hires in the U.S. Are People of Color. No single book or class can make a person culturally competent. The stereotypic behaviors of the powerful and their effect on the relatively powerless (pp. The only way to succeed is to commit to the process from the top down. Smile. Cultural and linguistic competence is a set of congruent behaviors, attitudes, and policies that come together in a system, agency, or among professionals that enables effective work in cross-cultural situations. Our interactions and perceptions of others may be influenced by our biases. Workplace leaders such as human resource managers can take actionable steps to embrace cultural competence in their organizations by doing the following. How often do we engage in conversation with someone with whom we have nothing in common, or someone with whom we disagree on a big topic? Book Diagnosing and Changing Organizational Culture based on the Competing Values Framework By Kim S Cameron & Robert E. Quinn Connect with . The firm also encourages networking among employees of African, Asian, Hispanic and Indigenous descent through employee business resource groups. CULTURE IS . After you earn your Bachelor of Arts degree in our Human and Social Services program, you can prepare for a lifelong career of making a positive impact in the lives of others by earning your counseling graduate degree online at Ottawa University. Fiona Blackburn has been working in the industry for eight years, during which time culturally competent service and organisations, and community engagement, have become professional interests. In some cultures, people are more comfortable with hierarchies and in others, a flat leadership style is more common . Here are a few reasons why cultural awareness is important: It can help you see how your culture shapes the way that you perceive other people, actions and events. Our world is growing, and with it, our opportunity to build valuable, diverse relationships. Some cultures emphasize individualism, while others prioritize the community. It is very helpful to understand these historical backgrounds that may help explain current events. Including topics and techniques associated with cultural humility, social work coursework helps prepare candidates for professional success with a diverse client base. Measures to improve cultural competence and ethnic diversity will help alleviate healthcare disparities and improve health care outcomes in these patient populations. For example, an employee may not realize that they frequently touch people when interacting, a gesture that might be interpreted as friendly in one culture and offensive in another. Cultural competence pushes employees to focus on clear communication. In order to understand other cultures, we have to recognize our own. One can have awareness, plenty of knowledge, and a good attitude about cultural differences, but these won't do much good without the skill to manage differences effectively. Learn more in our Cookie Policy. These three components will help us to create a welcoming environment and establish the appreciation of similarities and differences among cultures. When you pursue a careerin Human Services you will repeatedly hear the importance of listening. Why is it easy to lead some people, but not others? Engagement should be mutually beneficial and a reciprocal learning experience in which you learn from one another. Some cultures are fatalistic and others believe individuals control their own destiny. To achieve cultural competence we should ensure following three points: 1) Having an awareness of other cultures. Set up regular meetings or feedback channels for learning about any issues with discrimination, intolerance, or prejudice that can be addressed through cultural competence training. As we develop our levels of cultural competence, we begin to have a greater appreciation for our clients journeys. When you are considering a career in Human Services, it is important to understand that different cultures have unique histories and experiences. We need to bring awareness to stereotyping and prejudices that can create barriers in the workplace. Despite the fact that societies are becoming more culturally diverse and globalized, issues surrounding inequality, bias, and breakdowns in intercultural communications persist. In turn, they build in-demand skills for success in a growing field. learning about the cultures of your co-workers and business partners. Mendes, W. B., Gray, H., Mendoza-Denton, R., Major, B., & Epel, E. (2007). To protect you, we've sent you a confirmation email to make sure it's really you. In addition to listening for total meaning, you should also avoid mental distractions when building cultural competency through active listening. Here are a few ideas that will help improve your cultural competence: In todays technology-driven world, its easy to overlook pretty much everyone and everything around us. They can strengthen us. One need not look beyond recent news reports to find that ethnic tensions persist. These include podcasts, books, news, and other outlets that offer different perspectives on race and encourage us to enhance our cultural awareness through education. When you are considering a career in Human Services, it is important to understand that different cultures have unique histories and experiences. Baumeister, R. (2011). Cultural competence is the ability of a person to effectively interact, work, and develop meaningful relationships with people of various cultural backgrounds. Gather data about the cultural makeup of workplaces to create policies that increase diversity and cultural competence. Learn About Your Culture and Biases Many of the biases we hold are unconscious, meaning we're not aware we have them. As we improve our levels of cultural competence, we start to demonstrate improved DEI (diversity, equality, and inclusion) and a greater appreciation for our clients journeys. If you want to build relationships with the people around you, disconnect and make eye contact. The parents believed that spiritsincluding evil spiritsare attracted to infants, and their absence kept that attention away from their baby. For organizations where cultural competence and the bedrock of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) are not historically priorities, receiving proper expert training is the first step. Reflecting critically on our own biases and prejudices helps to develop the skills necessary to effectively interact and engage with individuals whose cultural background is different than our own. Prioritizing cultural competence can also help employees improve their own self-awareness as individuals in a diverse team. Cultural competence is built upon a framework of understanding, empathy and listening to the lived-in experiences of others. Kenneth barely spoke for days. (1998) Cultural humility versus cultural competence: A critical distinction in defining physician training outcomes in multicultural education. Cultural differences can affect the way people understand their roles in a team and work together. Cultural competence in the workplace can help managers and employees better communicate and coordinate with co-workers and clients. A peek at the changing demographics of the United States illustrates why cultural competence in social work is so important. We would have to co-exist with social groups we dont understand, unable to navigate differing socioeconomic statuses and cultural barriers, or exercise respect, empathy, and consideration for the well-being of others. Cultural competence in the workplace is vital to fostering an open, collaborative, and productive work environment. Theyre also likely to stay with the company longer. It means that you approach your business strategy through a lens of diversity, inclusion, and belonging so individuals of all backgrounds feel included to either work at your company or be a customer. You can't fully understand the cultures of everyone you meet -- but a willingness to ask questions and listen to others demonstrates your respect. It is through admitting what we dont know and a willingness to listen that we move beyond cultural competence to what is known as cultural humility. This produces a better conversation between members of an organization. Inclusion goes further, by creating a work environment in which employees from all cultures feel included treated fairly and respectfully and given equal access to opportunities. To love anywaywe must become culturally competent. Self-awareness includes a lifelong commitment to self-evaluation and self-critique (Tervalon and Murray-Garcia, 1998). The medical team was, unsurprisingly, troubled by this behavior, so they sought the advice of a nurse familiar with Vietnamese culture. Just like any skill, the process of development and improvement continues, and it is hard to point to a particular time when one can say Thats it! Workers in todays economy come from more unique backgrounds, cultures and socioeconomic groups compared to even a decade ago. Reflect on the error, and share what you learned with others who may benefit from the information. The world and the workplace have changed over the past few decades, and that does not even consider how remote work allows people to connect and collaborate across time zones and continents. Thats why the benefits of cultural competence in the workplace often include improved recruitment and retention of workers. It does not mean you have to agree with that persons perceptions and conclusions, but at the very least, you are able to see the other persons position. by Larry Alton Leadership skills you know they're important, but why do they sometimes fall short? That's why it's vital to examine diversity-related values. Maryville Universitys BS in Human Resource Management, , The Benefits of Cultural Diversity in the Workplace, , What Self-Awareness Really Is (and How to Cultivate It), , Youve Committed to Increasing Gender Diversity on Your Board. Cultural competence is a lifelong process of continually examining our own biases and assumptions, listening to and learning from others, and embracing our shared humanity. Displaying the cultural competence behaviors of active listening, demonstrating empathy, and effective engagement is important when moving beyond tolerance. But with that added flexibility comes an enhanced corporate responsibility to make teams that mesh well. This includes beliefs, values and experiences that have shaped peoples lives. Life is richer when we engage with the people around us, inviting them into our world and learning all we can about theirs. Multicultural competency requires the following: A basic understanding of your own culture and ethnicity Instead of asking what someone believes about a certain topic, ask them whythey believe what they do. Select Accept to consent or Reject to decline non-essential cookies for this use. From in-depth interviews with interculturally experienced professionals in a range of fields, psychological researchers Winston Sieck and Louise Rasmussen found four core skills to be developed: Like a diplomat, a culturally competent manager seeks to understand the other partys attitudes and intentions while being aware of their own unconscious biases. What parts of my identity am I aware of? These team members recognize pre-existing biases and work to overcome them through communication and interrogating those beliefs. Active listening entails thinking about the feeling behind the content or the emotion involved. So, in a corporate or government setting, how can we learn to interact respectfully and knowledgeably with clients and co-workers in cross-cultural situations? It's important to discuss that cultural . For those of us working with refugees or migrants in our communities, it is essential we understand events that underlie their movement from their home countries. Everyone carries some degree of bias into the workplace. Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved, 9, 117-125, Huge Employment Opportunities for OU Counseling Grads, What Can I Do with a Bachelors Degree in Human Services, Javascript must be enabled for the correct page display. In fact, tolerance usually means that you are simply putting up with something that is undesirable. Moreover, those of us working with youth need to prepare them to operate in a society that will be even more diverse in terms of religion, ethnic background, and sexual orientation. An essential ingredient of inclusion is cultural competence. Contact us to learn how we can help your organization gain the necessary insights to create a more equitable workplace. It also involves building relationships with an individual or particular cultural group. The U.S. Census Bureau estimates that by 2043, the U.S. will become a majority minority country. To successfully address cultural competence, healthcare organizations need to first gauge their current performance. Vescio, T. K., Gervais, S. J., Heiphetz, L., & Bloodhart, B. Why cant we just get along? Children and youth today need to be prepared to enter a workforce and adult society that spans across borders and involves interacting with people of diverse backgrounds in myriad settings. And how can we use our cultural diversity to strengthen our bonds with diverse populations?

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