Cultural Competency In On-line Coaching Insider Suggestions
How to promote cultural competence in online training
Cultural literacy in online training is a fantastic resource for bringing a global community together in one setting. L&D can be implemented quickly and consistently regardless of the learner’s location. Similar job roles in different countries can receive messages that make individuals feel valued and included. But global work also goes hand in hand with cultural competence. How can you ensure that colleagues are communicating effectively? The power of online training in this area is to train everyone to respect differences and celebrate similarities. The opportunities to educate employees about collaboration, regardless of their background, are enormous when eLearning technologies are used effectively.
Why is cultural competence important?
Culture plays a huge role in how people interact and interact. This may depend on how colleagues work together or how a customer experiences your support service. Many different cultures can be represented even within one country. People can have difficulty understanding someone from another culture because they are expressing themselves through values, slang, humor, beliefs, and language.
If we don’t understand a colleague’s background, we may not be able to provide or receive instructions, feedback, or appreciation. If we do not take into account the impact of culture, we will provide poor service that does not address individual needs. eLearning is ideal for promoting cultural literacy in online training courses as every learner in a company is placed in the same environment. Everyone can stay on the same brand-centric page, and interactive elements can be used to bring difficult concepts to life.
Getting the most out of cultural literacy Online training
A monotonous, text-based online training course does not improve cultural awareness for anyone! You can’t develop a different online training course for every country, background, religion, or social group. Instead, you need to use visual and interactive elements that are commonly understood.
1. Use English but with an accent consciousness
English is the universal business language, yes. But why should voice overs be limited to an American or English speaker? Company learners hearing voices from all over the world broaden their horizons and raise their awareness. Gather material from speakers in Australia, India, Brazil, Italy … the possibilities are endless. To foster cultural literacy in online training, vary the tone and accent in all of your online training courses so everyone feels included and represented. In short, you want your online training course to reflect a broader demographic so that employees can relate to the online training content.
2. Reflect different environments in visual elements
Do we really need to see another video in a cubicle in a North American office? Why not vary your view: Take people outside or into central rooms so corporate learners can get to know another office location without breaking COVID security protocols Show the true diversity of your workforce by including colleagues from around the world in your images. You can also incorporate online training simulations or even virtual reality tours that immerse employees in an unfamiliar environment. Or serious games that allow them to interact with people from different backgrounds and see things from their point of view.
3. Focus on delivering and receiving written messages
We’ve all received an email at least once that was taken out of context. This is relatively easy as we cannot rely on subtle vocal cues or tones. Hence, you should work hard to highlight some of the key differences in written communication. Show how rude or offensive a short, formal message from a colleague in a country can be. Understanding the intent behind the message – and the potential for misunderstanding – can be insightful for everyone involved.
4. Enable online group collaboration
Use your social media platforms and online collaboration tools to enable online group collaboration and online messaging projects. You can also give corporate learners the opportunity to ask each other questions during an online training course or highlight their own online training experiences. Encourage individuals to network after an online training session to share their knowledge and skills. Working together in groups builds the confidence of those who may not have a voice in a global environment. You can even invite employees to host their own live events where they showcase cultural norms and beliefs.
5. Ask learners in the company to question their point of view and how they proceeded
Do they see the impact of the way they interact with their global counterparts? Did you take the time to ask your team members how they would like to work better together? You may find that certain members dislike conference calls and struggle with the confidence to speak up. Or they learn that their coworker’s time zone means early morning meetings will work great for both of you. They may hate video chatting or feel completely isolated when they can’t put a face to a name. Encourage your corporate learners to look at their own tolerance and flexibility internally.
6. Give you a new perspective
Certain employees may not even realize that their actions or words are negatively affecting culturally diverse employees / customers. Give them a new perspective by incorporating examples, anecdotes, and stories into your online training strategy. For example, a personal anecdote opens your eyes to the fact that customers from different regions follow different meeting etiquette. Or that employees from international offices adhere to unique business practices or guidelines.
Conclusion
Cultural awareness in the modern workplace is key to reaping the benefits of a diverse workforce. After all, what good is it to have representatives from diverse backgrounds if no one is communicating effectively with one another? It is generally accepted that groups from different backgrounds make better decisions. Emphasizing and promoting cultural competence in online training courses gives your learners in companies the opportunity to show themselves at their best. Respecting and recognizing built-in cultural norms can give your customer service the edge. Investing in cultural literacy can give your company a real competitive advantage.
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