How would you communicate with someone who has a different cultural background than you?

Question

Karrie Day · Accepted Answer

"I worked in project teams with people of various backgrounds in my classes at college. I found it to be fun and interesting to learn from them about their cultures and family like at home. I even invited several friends from various countries to holidays at my home when they weren't able to travel to be with their own families.

There were times when we ran into translation issues. I found it helpful to use technology as a translation tool in the event we couldn't figure it out on our own. Boeing's international reach is one of the reasons I am so excited to be interviewing for this opportunity. I genuinely look forward to extending my knowledge of other cultures in the event I am hired for the position."

Karrie Day · Answer

Show that you are a team player by demonstrating how you have gone above and beyond to support other team members who are different from you. Being perceptive and sensitive to others is critical, especially with an employer like Boeing which has taken great strides in becoming a diverse and inclusive organization. Explain that you are accustomed to working in diverse environments and that you can quickly adapt to any different situation in which you are placed.

Want to take your response to the next level? Be sure to research Boeing's take on diversity and inclusion as well as their company culture. Your demonstration of similar values within your response will help to convince your interviewer that you will fit in well with the team at Boeing.

Karrie Day · Answer

Boeing is a large international corporation with offices located all over the globe. They expect their employees to understand how critical it is to share information in an open and comfortable setting. Cultural differences exist between its employees, but Boeing has developed their own culture for ensuring any gaps are overcome in favor of respect, inclusion, and collaboration. Your interviewer wants to know that your values in this area align with the diverse and inclusive culture Boeing has worked so hard to develop over the years.

Rachelle Enns · Answer

"I have worked with people from all backgrounds and personalities throughout my entire career and I really value this type of work environment. Whenever I join a new team, I make a point to get to know each person and find ways we can connect. I made a point to help one of our new hires feel welcomed by taking them to lunch and letting them know that I am available if they have any questions. I wanted to help make the transition of moving from Saudi Arabia and working at a new place as smooth as possible for them."

Karrie Day · Answer

"I have had the opportunity to work with people with a wide array of backgrounds. I have also travelled internationally for work over a dozen times. My go to approach for communication in situations like these is to make sure I approach them with the upmost respect and kindness. I find that any communication snags are widely overlooked when the people you work with can tell you have only the best intentions.

Additionally, I ask them if they would be open to sharing some of their traditions and culture with me. I find that usually leads to them asking me to do the same. I always make it a point to be an excellent host to anyone I work with that is new to my culture. I would look to use the same strategies here at Boeing if given the opportunity to learn about new cultures or extend hospitality."

Karrie Day · Answer

"If time permits, the first thing I do when working with someone who is from a culture I am not familiar with is research their culture. I find this helps me to anticipate common communication challenges and learn social cues that indicate communication issues exist.

I also check in often during meetings to ensure we are all on the same page. I paraphrase and use metaphors frequently to make sure everyone is tracking as we go. I also make it a point to ask them to stop and ask questions at any time. I feel these strategies would help me bridge any communication gaps due to cultural differences here at Boeing."

Karrie Day · Answer

"As a project manager, I find myself in a position to facilitate meetings often. I like to use basic facilitation tools to help bridge gaps in communication. For example, someone may come from a culture in which it is considered rude to ask questions during a meeting. They may be accustomed to holding all questions until the end. However, as a team we can leverage ground rules such as 'there are no dumb questions' and 'please ask questions at any time during the meeting'. Rules like these help ensure everyone follows their manners and we establish a culture that is shared by all during the meeting.

Outside of meetings, I approach others with respect and courtesy. I extend them the same kindness I show all humans. That strategy has worked well for me during my time as a project manager."

Karrie Day · Answer

"I have had the opportunity to work with amazing people from all kinds of cultures during my time as a software engineer. In my experience, technology is a common bridge that we can all lean on from a communication perspective.

In addition to discussing technology, I make it a point to ask questions about their lives and families as appropriate. I also love to try foods from all over the world. I find that the people I work with open up and communicate more easily after I explain that I love food, and I am interested to learn about their favorite local dishes."

Anonymous User · Answer

"I have worked in a few different countries, in Germany, I worked with french, german, Spanish and Indians for Americans and with Japanese support remotely. I like to take time to get to know people and where they are from, as I am interested in travel like to find out about other countries. Its always to go for a meal with people from different cultures, particularly since a lot of different cultures are based around food and people feel more comfortable and open up when they around food from home,"

Anonymous User · Answer

"Whether being at uni or at work, I have constantly met and worked with people from various cultural backgrounds and personalities. I do welcome them by showing genuine interest in knowing their backgrounds and how they find living here in Australia. I always let them know that they can ask me about something they are unfamiliar with. I want to make them feel that regardless of their background and race, they have a place here and they would always be welcomed."

Anonymous User · Answer

"I would communicate with them the same way I communicate with anyone. We are all human beings we all deserve respect and empathy. I have no right to tell someone how to live their life. Within our new company, we are a very global based corporation. We have people from all over the world. My trainer for Primavera is actually from Saudi Arabia and he and I go out to lunch whenever I go out to his office because we do not believe that there is anything different between us."

Anonymous User · Answer

"I respect people coming from different cultures. I do this by listening carefully and speaking clearly to avoid any miscommunication."

Anonymous User · Answer

"I have a different cultural background than most of my peers, so I practice this type of communication all the time by respecting other cultures and beliefs. I practice active listening, enunciating, speaking clearly, and using complete, not very complicated sentences. As well, some cultural backgrounds have specific sensitivities, so I am careful about my nonverbal communications."

Anonymous User · Answer

"I would take the time to learn about the culture show them respect in the same way I would show somebody from my culture respect. For the last five years, I have been working with an Indian company and have had to learn how to 're-word' emails. For example, in the UK, you can be polite in an email, but you can also get to the point quite quickly, and you don't cause offense. Whereas if I email my Indian colleagues, I take a breath and start with a 'softer' introductory sentence or two, this helps a long way to getting a positive response"

Anonymous User · Answer

"I try to stay open and compassionate towards people of all backgrounds. I would communicate directly and clearly with someone of different experiences the same way I would communicate with anyone else in a professional setting."

Anonymous User · Answer

"I work with people from different cultures, people from India, the Philippines, Fiji, Nepal, to name a few. Together we celebrate our differences and work very well together. We listen to each other and have fun doing so."

Anonymous User · Answer

"Although it may seem simplistic, I believe that treating people the way you expect to be treated translates across all demographics. The 60 employees on my current team are a very diverse group, with over half having spent time incarcerated. I treat them all with respect; I don't speak at them but with them and solicit and act on their feedback regularly. It's hard to point to definitive results, but I believe a record producing year says something."

Anonymous User · Answer

"I have worked with people from different cultural backgrounds for many years. I do this every day as a professor in a university environment. I take the time to get to know each of my colleagues and students and find ways to connect. I made it a point to invite some of my international students for a soccer game. We played, ate and had a good time."

Anonymous User · Answer

"I believe respect is a universal language capable of building trust and understanding. As I continued to collaborate with them, I would work to learn more about their cultures and backgrounds."

Anonymous User · Answer

"No different from anyone else I know, I would communicate with respect and be courteous."

Anonymous User · Answer

"I had a lot of co-workers who has different cultural backgrounds, even lab partners. Because of the way everyone lives, I am open and understand how they live. I communicate with someone who is familiar with the culture. For example, I earned a family vacation to go to Europe. Before I went on vacation, I asked someone who is familiar with the culture. It was a fascinating talk. With the information I earned from them, I enjoyed the family vacation to Europe."

Anonymous User · Answer

"In previous roles, I would work with colleagues from other cultural backgrounds from mine. I understand there may be communication gaps along the way. I would set up mtgs, making sure we were on the same page and stopping and asking questions at any time. On my own time, I would do further research on my colleagues' culture to have a better understanding."

How would you communicate with someone who has a different cultural background than you?

How to Answer: How would you communicate with someone who has a different cultural background than you?

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15. How would you communicate with someone who has a different cultural background than you?

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