In today's globalised world, effective cross-cultural communication has become increasingly important. With the borderless internet in our pocket it is easy to feel as if we live in a culturally diverse world when for the most part we are still living within a bubble of our own.
This distorts what we think we know about others and how we behave on a daily basis. And to overcome these biases, it's important to approach people and situations with curiosity, empathy, and an open mind.
This blog explores culture as a mindset that individuals and groups embody, rather than a product of geopolitical borders. Outlined are five easy steps for overcoming cultural bias, including mastering cross-cultural communication with the power of meta-frames and meta-models.
By following these steps, we can recognise and embrace divergent behaviours, frame events through the appropriate context, and filter information through a cognitive model, leading to transformative growth and inclusive attitudes.
Step 1: Assess
The first step to overcoming cultural biases is to assess our own biases.
Culture is not a single "thing" that exists in one place, but a multilayered structure that gets built into our minds from many directions. This means that we are not only influenced by our own cultural background but also by the various cultural influences around us.
Accessing everything that is perceivable would lead to severe mental overload. First, there are neurological constraints limiting our capacity to perceive, and secondly, we tend to take more notice of what we expect than what we could theoretically perceive.
As psychologist Franklin P. Kilpatrick¹ puts it, "We can never be aware of the world as such, but only of the impingement of physical forces on the sensory receptors." Our cognitive limitations and socialisation into our own cultural norms shape our understanding of the world, albeit subjective.
To effectively translate meaning across mindsets, we need to develop self-awareness. This includes understanding not only our cultural assumptions, but also identifying personal triggers and hot buttons.
Following Confucius, we may say that we are all born similar but learn to be different, and to respond differently to the same reality.
Step 2: Recognise
The second step in overcoming cultural biases is to recognise and embrace divergent behaviour.
Since our own cultural background shapes our perceptions and judgments of others, we may be unaware of our own biases, assumptions, and values. As anthropologist Edward T. Hall² noted, "Culture hides more than it reveals, and strangely enough, what it hides, it hides most effectively from its own participants.".
Establishing a heightened sense of observation involves acknowledging that culture is a dynamic and evolving system. Constantly influenced by the individual and collective experiences.
Embracing the new and unfamiliar, requires a willingness to step outside of the comfort zones. Although challenging, it equips us to take action from a place of self-awareness and to diligently navigate complex behavioural situations.
"Man is an animal suspended in webs of significance he himself has spun," said anthropologist Clifford Geertz³. Embracing cultural differences is essential for developing inclusive attitudes and skills, creating webs that benefit everyone.
Step 3: Meta-Frames
The third step in overcoming cultural biases is to frame events through its appropriate context.
Meta-frames are underlying assumptions and beliefs that shape our understanding of the world. By assessing and recognising our own meta-frames, we can gain a better understanding of our thought processes and how they impact our interactions with others.
A world without a frame is undefinable due to its vastness. Our minds need to perceive and calibrate the correct value and meaning through contextualization. A frame provides context in which all data (inputs and outputs) gain a specific value, weight, and meaning.
In coaching, meta-frames can be used to navigate between personal and cultural needs, reframing perception of a situation and seeing things from an alternative vantage point.
When there is a shift in orientation, it is more likely to feel motivated and empowered to take action. This can be useful in situations where a client is stuck in a limiting mindset or is struggling to see a way forward.
"When we associate totally with the picture, there is the possibility that we mistake it for reality. The picture is a symbol, yet sometimes the symbol becomes as important as the reality it represents" (Katan and Taibi)⁴.
By shifting between different meta-frames it enables us to avoid the pitfalls of ethnocentrism and stereotyping. Assessing, recognising and challenging assumptions, we can begin to see things from a more nuanced and holistic perspective.
The connection between different cultural backgrounds is a dance of awareness. Flexibly thinking to respond to circumstances and achieve desired outcomes for both parties.
Step 4: Meta-model
The fourth step in overcoming cultural biases is to filter information through a cognitive model.
Meta-models are the mental models or frameworks we use to understand and make sense of information. And language is a scaled-down model of reality that reflects the inner reality people live by. It influences, but does not determine our thoughts or behaviour. To free our words from our bias box, we need to anchor clarity in our personal motifs, needs, and desires.
Like Google Maps, humans use language selectively. Focusing on a particular experience (form of delation), changing perspectives to convey more or less detailed information (form of distortion), and uses examples or types of metaphors to represent the entirety of a ‘thing’ (form of generalisation).
Meta-models can be applied in coaching to identify and revise problematic deletions, distortions, and generalisations in our internal mode of thinking and language use. Expanding our thinking vocabulary improves interactions with others, enabling us to navigate sensitive topics with empathy and adapt our language more effectively.
Asking questions such as "What are the possibilities?", "How does it look to you?", "Which things specifically?", “In the bigger scheme of things, how important is this?”.
Step 5: Creating a Roadmap
The fifth step in overcoming cultural biases is to identify a direction and tailor a plan of action.
Overcoming cultural biases requires not only identifying a clear direction but also creating a specific feeling that aligns with individual needs and wants. To develop a tailored plan of action, it is crucial to consider the cultural assumptions and biases that may impact the ability to achieve goals.
Incorporating coaching can be beneficial in identifying personal strengths, clarifying personal values, and creating a customised plan that aligns with one's unique personality. However, cross-cultural communication is an ongoing process that requires constant inward reflection and conscious effort to avoid obstacles that may arise.
The roadmap should be adaptable and flexible to accommodate changing circumstances and priorities. It demands self-awareness, willingness to experiment, and take risks in pursuit of desired outcomes. Ultimately, it serves as a guide for individuals to navigate the complex terrain authentically, respectfully, and effectively.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, cross-cultural communication can be challenging, but the five steps outlined in this guide can help you navigate these complexities and improve interactions with others.
Increasing awareness over personal assumptions, biases, and communication styles, enables better understanding of how interactions may affect different cultures.
- The first step of assigning self-awareness is crucial in creating a solid foundation for better overall communication.
- The second step of recognising cultural-awareness enables us to appreciate the nuances in diverging styles and norms.
- The third step of the meta frame expands the lens of empathy to better connect to the context and meaning.
- The fourth step of the meta-model provides insight into the person's mindset and language patterns, deepening understanding of their relationship with words.
Implementing these steps and working with a coach, an individual can nurture their potential and transform reactive responses into mindful ones. This process can help build on one's resourcefulness, creativeness, and wholeness.
“One of the most significant facts about humanity may finally be that we all begin with the natural equipment to live a thousand kinds of life but end in the end having lived only one” - Clifford Geertz
📚 Bibliography:
- Franklin P. Kilpatrick: "Explorations in Transactional Psychology"
- Edward T. Hall: “The Dance of Life: The Other Dimension of Time”
- Clifford Geertz: "The Independence of Cultures"
- David Katan and Mustapha Taibi: "Translating Cultures An Introduction for Translators, Interpreters and Mediators" 3rd edition 2021