This is about harnessing and leveraging diversity and inclusion in an increasingly global world.  If you aren’t already working across cultures or boundaries, you soon will be.

Your ability to tolerate, include and leverage diversity will be a key to future success.  Acting as a diplomat not only between different geographic locations but even between organisational functions is critical to getting the work done.

According to the paper Future Work Skills 2020, in order to be successful in a diverse team, individuals will “be able to identify and communicate points of connection (shared goals, priorities, values) that transcend their differences and enable them to build relationships and to work together effectively.”

Whilst technology is a key enabler with this, it’s way more than that.  It requires:

• Curiosity – I wonder how best to work with my team?  I wonder what their needs are?  I wonder how best to address those needs?  I wonder what is different about us?
  
  
• Connection – What do we share in common?  What is our shared vision of the work?
  
  
• Collaboration – What is the best way for us to share information?  How can we produce results despite our physical location or cultural difference?

I believe this is where organisations get it wrong. They move on to collaboration without first establishing a strong foundation of genuine curiosity and connection.
My advice…when in doubt drop back to curiosity EVERY SINGLE TIME.  When you maintain a state of curiosity - “I wonder how/why/when they do things?” - you stay out of judgement, which is the antithesis of Peace Making.

I think Milton J Bennett got it right in his paper titled Developmental Model of Intercultural Sensitivity:  As we continue to move towards globalisation, we need to develop greater Ethnorelativity skills and adopt an Adaptive mindset.

Homework:

• Read Milton J Bennett’s paper: Developmental Model of Intercultural Sensitivity
• Read The Difference by Professor Scott E. Page
• Read Spiral Dynamics by Don Edward Beck & Christopher Cowan 
  
  

Next week I will be talking about Skill 5: Rain Making.