Culture Differences
The office has become a melting pot stocked with people of diverse backgrounds and cultural customs. People tend to “hang" with others familiar to their culture or habits. When these individual groups assemble, managers face the challenges of small group dynamics and team communication issues.
Try This: People often cling to “like-minded" individuals or want to share space with others in their culture. Try to mix them together or have assigned seats to break them up. Make sure that during brainstorming sessions, everyone is contributing—even if you have to walk the floor to listen. If someone is reticent, ask them for feedback. The most important thing however, is to repeat back what you’ve heard. Make sure that your understanding is clear. By reframing your understanding, it allows others to know you are listening and fosters communication.