When the team members come from three or more cultures, the complexity of the interaction within the team increases a lot, and many problems and phenomena arise at the same time, often creating a chaotic scene. In this case, two misunderstandings often arise: the first is to completely ignore the so-called cultural differences and go straight to work;Another misconception is that cultural diversity can be problematic. To build a good multicultural team, we must first get rid of these two misconceptions: we must face up to the cultural differences between individual team members, and at the same time look at these differences in a positive light, and see the benefits of differences, not the problems. On this basis, the following points should be achieved.
1.Before the first meeting of a multicultural team, everyone should be actively prepared. Get to know the other team members, have an understanding of the ethnic composition of the team members, determine the specific goals of the meeting, make sure that the team has the appropriate resources, authority and necessary training to achieve the goals, circulate the meeting materials and agenda, so that all members are mentally prepared for the agenda, so that everyone is on the same starting line.
2.In a multicultural team, there should be a discussion to decide whether the team needs leadership. If the majority of members in a multicultural team come from a culture with a large power distance, a team leader should be chosen to ensure that the team functions effectivelyConversely, if the majority of the members of a multicultural team are from cultures with low power distances, it is not necessarily necessary to have a team leader.
3.Have your first meeting. The first meeting is important because it will set the tone for the future cooperation of the whole team.
In summary, building a great cross-cultural team requires three key tasks: the first is to understand each other's cultural backgrounds and build good interpersonal relationshipsThe second is to determine the task structure and establish a code of conduct for team membersFinally, it is necessary to build the emotional intelligence of cross-cultural teams, to recognize the emotions of members and to be able to resolve them.