Cultural fluency is not an abstract concept – it’s a core leadership skill for thriving in new environments, expanding your business abroad, and managing teams from different cultural backgrounds. Discover what it involves and what practical steps you need to take to succeed as a global leader.
Cultural Fluency is a Communication Competence
But it’s much more than language skills. Cultural fluency is the ability to interact confidently, appropriately, and effectively in a new culture, so you can build relationships and trust.
Confidently: in a way that shows self-assurance and presence.
Appropriately: in a way that does not violate cultural norms, cause offense, or result in misunderstanding and frustration.
Effectively: in a way that supports your professional and business goals and drives productivity.
Cultural Fluency is Culture-Specific
Communication is culture-specific, and so is cultural fluency. While there are general prerequisites that form the foundation of cultural fluency, you must build it with a specific target group in mind.
Why Cultural Fluency Matters
It’s natural for us to apply our own cultural framework whenever we interact with others. Our actions and words, even when we express them in a foreign language, reflect the culture(s) we were brought up in.
When we work with people who grew up in a different environment, our “natural” ways could be inappropriate and, consequently, ineffective. In fact, there is a good chance they are.
Just look at the following example (this story was first published in German on hrweb.at):
Paul was on his first business trip to the US. He had just recently been promoted to Manager of North American Exports and the trip was a great opportunity for him to prove his expertise.
The goal of Paul’s two-day visit with the American distribution partner was to discuss various optimizations. The first day started with a short tour of the distributor’s warehouse before everyone sat down in the conference room. In addition to Paul, John, the founder and CEO of the US company, and four other employees were present. The atmosphere was relaxed and friendly. The participants quickly got down to business and John presented a list of suggestions for improving existing weaknesses. His ideas reflected a clear “can-do” optimism and the need for a cooperative effort. Paul listened attentively.
When John was done, he said, “Paul, what are your thoughts?” Paul knew that Americans like to get straight to the point. So, he explained, directly and without beating around the bush, why several of John's points would not work and what the Americans needed to do differently. John responded with a polite, “Thanks Paul. I appreciate your input.”
Somehow, however, the mood in the room had changed. Paul sensed the tension, but assumed it was because he hadn't agreed with all of John's suggestions, thinking, “I guess Americans are not used to pushback.” |
Paul's interpretation of the situation was wrong. John had no problem with Paul making counter-suggestions, but he found the way he did it unacceptable. Paul delivered his feedback in a culturally inappropriate way.
Three Steps to Cultural Fluency
The Prerequisite: Be Prepared to Question Your Familiar Ways.
For leaders to start developing cultural fluency, they must recognize that cultural differences can have a significant impact on their ability to lead, motivate, develop professional relationships, and be successful in their role. And they must be prepared to reflect on, question, and adapt their own communication style.
Step 1: Grow Your Knowledge and Understanding
Be curious and learn as much as you can about the new environment. Try to understand core values, motivations, and expectations. Familiarize yourself with prevalent communication styles and social cues.
Contrast these aspects with your primary culture to discover relevant cultural differences. Understand how they may affect your success as a leader. Do not ignore or minimize cultural differences, as this will result in miscommunication, misunderstanding, and frustration.
Step 2: Enhance Your Skills
Knowledge is not enough. Daily interactions require communication skills and practices for a wide range of situations.
Language is a key player, because it is our main communication tool. High-level language skills are not just a “nice-to-have”. Leaders must know that anything less than advanced skills will put them in a position of weakness – struggling to express themselves concisely and understand others fully.
Excellent language skills must be linked to cultural practices. You need to learn how to use language in specific situations to be effective: what to say (and what not) and how to say it (and how not).
Step 3: Internalize and Deliver for Success
Fluency is about applying knowledge and skills strategically - and with ease. To build the proficiency and comfort needed to engage effectively in everyday and high-stakes interactions, leaders must practice, reflect on mistakes and missteps, and remain open to performance feedback and guidance.
At this stage, leaders may struggle with authenticity. Real-world application pushes us out of our comfort zones. It requires adopting unfamiliar behaviors that may initially feel awkward or even fake.
A cross-cultural communication coach can guide you through these challenges and help you develop a leadership style that is culturally fluent, authentic, and true to yourself.
Why Waiting for Cultural Fluency to Develop Naturally is Not an Option
As a leader, time isn’t on your side. You can’t afford months or years of trial and error to gradually understand and adapt to a new culture. Your organization, team, clients, and environment demand swift learning to prevent costly mistakes and maintain trust.
Coaching gives you the momentum to rapidly build and refine your cultural fluency.
As Jane Hyun and Douglas Conant put it in their HBR article, "… like any other leadership competency, cultural fluency is a muscle that can be strengthened, but not built overnight." I specialize in helping leaders like you strengthen that muscle efficiently and effectively. My highly customized coachings and workshops will equip you with the confidence and skills needed to navigate the unique cultural landscape of the U.S.
Let’s fast-track your success. Contact me to start your journey today.