Intercultural Communicationin the Workplace

Robbie Samuelswww.RobbieSamuels.com

@RobbieSamuels

About Me

• Professional Speaker– Networking– Fundraising – Intercultural Communication

• Founder Socializing for Justice

To have the best conversation possible…

To have the best conversation possible…

My MeaningYour Meaning Shared Meaning

Story of your name“Remember that a person’s name is

to that person the sweetest and most important sound in any language.”

- Dale Carnegie, How to Win Friends and Influence People

Mattering & Marginality

Think of a time when you felt as if you really mattered, when who you

were or what you did was valued.

Mattering & Marginality

Cues What in the interaction let you know you were being valued? Feelings How did you feel as a result of this interaction? Actions What were your behaviors in response to this interaction?

Mattering & Marginality

Think of a time when you felt as if you did not really matter,

when who you were or what you did was not valued.

Mattering & Marginality

Cues What in the interaction let you know you were being not valued? Feelings How did you feel as a result of this interaction? Actions What were your behaviors in response to this interaction?

Definitions• Communication & Intercultural

Communication• Race & Ethnicity• Diversity• Inclusion• Equity• Culture

My MeaningYour Meaning

Shared Meaning

DefinitionsCommunication

The creation of shared meaning.

Intercultural CommunicationThe creation of shared meaning

across cultural contexts.

DefinitionsRace

“Genetic” heritage (e.g. skin color); a “social construct”, not based on biology but

“created”

EthnicityDescribes one’s cultural background

Definitions

DiversityOften understood as numerical representation of difference in

people, viewpoints, and experiences

DefinitionsDiversity

“The fact of human difference, that may make a difference – in how we

interact with one another, with communities, and institutions.” - N.

Abdul-Wahid

DefinitionsInclusion

Diverse people, viewpoints, and experiences are “heard” and

counted. Belief that this leads to better solutions and moves us

towards the goal of equity.

DefinitionsEquity

Addresses disparity of resources and how resources are structurally

allocated to marginalized communities.

DefinitionsCulture

Shared patterns that help us make meaning of our environment and determine appropriate behavior.

“It’s just the way we do things around here.”

ArtifactsBehavior

NormsBeliefs Assumptions

Values

IN AWARENESS

OUT OF CONSCIOUS AWARENESS

INVISIBLE

OBSERVABLE

ICEBERG MODEL OF CULTURE

Describe the Picture

DIE Model

D DescribeInformation Gathering stage: Objective analysis and articulation based on observation

“What you see”

I Interpret

Information Processing stage: Subjective analysis and articulation based in large part on individual cultural/personal opinions and cultural experiences

“What you think you see “

E EvaluateDetermination stage:Assignment of value judgment based on Descriptive and Interpretive information

“What you think and/or feel about

what you think you see”

DIE ModelThink about a time when this happened at work,

here or elsewhere, where the lack of cultural

observation contributed misunderstandings,

unintended bias, and/or miscommunication.

How would your knowledge of theDIE Model impact how you would

approach this situation?

Wrap Up

Robbie Samuelswww.RobbieSamuels.com