Whether you are working for a local business or a global one, you will probably be working with teams from different cultural backgrounds. MBA students with good multicultural management skills are in demand because they understand and appreciate these differences and know how to help them collaborate and communicate effectively and keep the wheels churning.

As the world is becoming more and more interconnected, MBA students are enrolling into global MBA programs allowing them to run businesses operating across borders effectively. They need to learn multicultural management to navigate individuals and teams from different cultures (with different communication styles, values, and working practices).

Management professionals today need to learn how to bridge these language and cultural differences, be mindful of nonverbal cues, foster inclusivity, and appreciate diverse perspectives.

India is a microcosm in itself with incredibly diverse cultural landscapes. So many religions, languages, and ethnicities coexist here. Regional customs and lifestyles vary widely. So, even if you are working for an Indian business, these multicultural management tips can help you in leading your organisation to success.

So, let’s begin:

Tip No. 1: How to Overcome Language and Cultural Barriers?

In a global business landscape, language barriers can hamper clear communication between different teams. Individuals from different backgrounds may have different native languages and dialects. Novices might not be able to understand technical terms and jargon, especially those that are company-specific.

Written communication might be difficult to understand if it has complex sentence structures, slang, and acronyms everyone is not familiar with. If you are pursuing a Master of Business Administration with a focus on global business management, you are probably already learning tips for cross-cultural management to overcome such language barriers. 

These include:

1. Using simple and plain language that everyone understands. Keep things clear, concise, and free of technical terms and jargon as much as possible.
2. Using reliable translation services for crucial documents and important communication. You wouldn’t want your colleagues sitting in different countries to misunderstand something and mess up the project, would you?
3. Using professional interpreters for all the crucial meetings and training sessions can help everyone grasp the information completely.
4. Standardising vocabulary and offering language classes, especially in a technical environment, can help employees from across the world understand each other and collaborate effectively.
5. Incorporating visual elements like diagrams, charts, images, flowcharts, 3D models, and 2D and 3D animations in your presentations and technical documents makes it easier for everyone to understand the most complex concepts easily. This is a great trick for user manuals too.
6. Repeating key messages and instructions is a good idea when you are working with a team distributed across time zones. It ensures that everyone receives the information and they have the opportunity to ask clarifying questions if required.
7. Observing respect and patience in all communication becomes even more important in a multicultural environment. If you raise your voice, you might be perceived as aggressive. Or if you use a condescending voice, it might not sit well with people from some cultures.

Tip No. 2: Consider Different Communication Styles

If you are an MBA student or a BBA student looking forward to joining a global MBA program, knowing how people from different cultures communicate can be an asset. 

Here’s a bird eye’s view of different communication styles for you:

Communication Style	Cultural Differences	Examples
Tone, Volume, and Speed of Speech	Loudness, expressiveness, and speed can vary.	– Loud, expressive speech is common in some African, Caribbean, Latino, and Arab cultures. – Softer tones and less expressiveness are found in some American Indian, Alaskan Native, and East Asian cultures.
Eye Contact	Can be seen as polite or rude depending on the culture.	– Direct eye contact is valued in many Western cultures. – In some Asian cultures, direct eye contact can be considered disrespectful.
Use of Pauses and Silence	Comfort level with silence varies across cultures.	– Pauses may be uncomfortable in dominant U.S. cultures. – Some American Indian cultures value silence for processing information and gathering thoughts.
Facial Expressiveness	Level of facial expression can be culturally influenced.	– High expressiveness is common in Latin American and Caribbean cultures. – Maintaining a neutral expression is more prevalent in some American Indian and Asian cultures.
Emotional Expressiveness	Openness to expressing emotions varies.	– People from Western cultures may readily express sadness. – In some East Asian cultures, expressing strong emotions might be inappropriate. – Gender and cultural identity also play a role in perceived emotional expression.
Self-Disclosure	Sharing personal information can be culturally specific.	– Individuals from cultures valuing self-disclosure may share more openly. – People from collectivist cultures, like some East Asian ones, may disclose less to avoid bringing shame to the family.
Formality	Level of formality can differ based on cultural norms.	– Latinx, African American, and many white American individuals prefer a warm and personal style. – East Asian cultures often expect a formal approach, especially initially.
Directness	The level of directness in communication can vary.	– The dominant U.S. culture leans towards direct communication. – Many Asian and Latin American cultures may use indirectness to avoid negativity or embarrassment.
Context	Communication can be high or low context.	– The U.S. leans towards low context, where words hold most meaning. – High context cultures, like some Asian ones, rely heavily on nonverbal and situational cues for meaning.
Orientation to Self or Others	Individualistic vs. collectivistic cultures impact communication.	– The U.S. is individualistic, focusing on “I” statements. – Collectivistic cultures may use third-person and plural pronouns, prioritising group well-being.

Keeping these in mind while communicating with people from different cultures will make it easier for you to build rapport and trust with them, avoid misunderstandings and misinterpretations, and foster a more inclusive and respectful work environment.

In a global business, you are likely to work with people in the US, Canada, France, Germany, UAE, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Sweden, South Korea, and several other countries. If you plan to work for such companies, we suggest you research multicultural management tips or tips for cross-cultural management specific to the regions and cultures you are targeting.

Tip No. 3: Plan Projects Around Different Time Zones

As a Master of Business Administration student, you need to be prepared to collaborate with team members in different time zones. At such times, you might employ the following strategies:

• Assess the communication styles and mediums preferred by different team members. Adjust the degree of formality, directness, and emotional expressions according to the cultural background of the team (or individual) you are communicating with.

Ask how people would like to be contacted (such as on the phone or through email, instant messaging apps, or video conferencing).

• People across different time zones may contact using channels that allow delayed responses (such as email or WhatsApp) when they have non-emergency work concerns or questions. This makes it easier for people to approach each other without disturbing someone at an odd time. 

It is also important to set response times based on realistic expectations. Don’t pressurise them for immediate replies (outside working hours) unless it’s urgent. This will help everyone have a better work-life balance.

• Many project management tools and software in the market facilitate collaboration across distances. Some of the popular options are Trello, Asana, and Basecamp. These tools allow team members to log in and work on projects asynchronously, track progress, and share files seamlessly.

To address complex issues and foster a sense of bonding and connection, you might want to schedule regular video calls at least once a week where everyone can see and hear each other. You might want to use a World Clock app to see the current time in different locations where your team members are. It will help you avoid scheduling video calls and meetings at inconvenient times.

• It is also crucial to clearly define project goals and assign individual responsibilities and deadlines factoring in time zone differences. Using shared calendars and reminders can help people avoid confusion and make sure everyone is on the same page.

In multicultural management, you need to be a little flexible. Consider the cultural norms and work schedules of individual team members and trust them to manage their workloads effectively and on a timely basis.

Tip No. 4: Allow Time for Preparation When Necessary

One of the most underrated tips for cross-cultural management is how to handle the decision-making process in a global business. In some cultures, swift choices are preferred while in some other cultures, thorough analysis and preparation take priority. This is often the cause of friction within multicultural teams.

To avoid this, recognize the different approaches of people from different cultures, have open communication about it, and allow necessary preparation time for team members who want to analyse everything thoroughly before making a decision.

Open dialogues and active participation of different stakeholders will make it easier for everyone to find a consensus or a solution after considering varied perspectives and concerns.

Tip No. 5: Embrace Cultural Differences and Foster Inclusivity

One of the best multicultural management tips for MBA students is about how to foster inclusivity and embrace differences in a workplace not only out of our ethical and moral standing but also for the strategic advantages it can offer to businesses.

An inclusive team offers an opportunity to consider a wider range of viewpoints and perspectives – and hence, make better-informed decisions. It can help a business connect with different markets and different customer bases – and understand their unique needs and expectations.

This can be done by:

• Promoting inclusivity from the top down demonstrates a strong example of respective diverse perspectives. The Diversity and inclusion (D&I) training programs should be conducted regularly to equip employees with the necessary knowledge and skills to navigate these cultural differences effectively.
• Online platforms have made it easier to hire a diverse team. Implement blind screening techniques to reduce bias. You may also encourage employees to start groups where people from similar backgrounds can connect, offer support, and share experiences. It can turn out to be their safe place to interact with each other and share their concerns openly.
• Open communication in a cross-cultural environment includes active listening, open exchange of ideas, and respectful dialogues. You may also celebrate festivals, holidays, and traditions of people from diverse cultures to inculcate a better understanding at the workplace.
• When you talk about multicultural management tips, it is crucial to recognize that you or your top leaders might be harbouring unconscious bias. Assessing the leaders and managers for such biases on a regular basis and working to mitigate their impact can improve interactions and work efficiency considerably in a global business scenario.

Conclusion

Putting these multicultural management tips into action and incorporating them into your leadership style can help you unlock outstanding results in the global business arena. 
If you aspire to do a global MBA program or become a truly effective and inclusive leader working for a multinational firm, you need to realise that diversity can fuel innovation and creativity – which can lead your organisation to success in today’s interconnected world.