Monthly INSHRM Luncheon
Communicating within a Diverse Culture
Presented by:
Jeanette Nyden, J.D. (author, speaker, trainer, lawyer and mediator)
Date: Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Time: Check-In begins at 11:00 a.m., announcements/program begin at 11:30 a.m.
Location: Red Lion River Inn, 700 N. Division, Spokane
Pre-approved for 1.0 HRCI credit.
Program Description:
Scholars call culture the “Silent Language.” More importantly, Edward T. Hall noted, “most of culture is acquired and therefore cannot be taught.” If culture is unspoken and cannot be learned, how do we effectively communicate at work with people from different cultures? We tend take our own culture for granted; we don’t realize our own culture’s impact on our communication style. Nor do we fully understand that different cultures have different styles of communicating. We dismiss people who don’t fit in as being, “rude”, “evasive”, “two-timing”, “bullying”, “passive” and the list goes on. In fact, people who are described in harsh terms could be living within their own cultural norms. The first step in creating cultural awareness is recognizing our own cultural expectations, or preferences. Only then, can we recognize and appreciate that tensions, differences or “problems” could be cultural and not personal. We can choose to modify our own communication style to accommodate others. In this presentation, participants will
1) Identify their companies’ cultures with respect to: inclusivity, time and decision making.
2) Identify how their companies communicate those three cultural expectations, or preferences at work.
3) Identify ways HR can use communication to bridge any cultural gaps at work.
Once we are aware of the ways in which culture might be impacting communication, we can develop simple ways for bridging the cultural gap. Participants will leave the presentation with a greater awareness of just how pervasive, and hidden, the role that culture plays in the workplace. Participants will also learn to recognize ways to communicate cultural expectations across a variety of cultures.
Bio:
Before starting my own companies, I was a litigator for a boutique bankruptcy law firm in Chicago, Illinois. Not only did I get a bird’s eye view into the failings of companies, I also developed my instinct to identify and implement strategies when dealing with hidden motives that can hinder the negotiation process. My early trial-by-fire training in negotiation came as a result my experiences serving as Assistant Public Defender in Chicago, Illinois, the largest criminal justice system in the United States. I gained a breadth of experience as I defended and negotiated prison terms for men and women eligible for the death penalty. Those negotiations gave me vital insight on how to move from aggressive posturing and positioning to actively understanding the needs of the other party. In the end, I negotiated several plea bargains which kept convicted criminals safely behind bars while saving the victims families from a gut wrenching ordeal called trial. I earned my B.A. and Juris Doctorate from the Southern Illinois University – go Salukis! Between 2003 and 2007, I donated hundreds of hours mediating disputes for the Pierce County Center for Dispute Resolution, a non-profit organization. I was an adjunct professor at Pacific Lutheran University MBA Program, where I taught future business leaders how to become master negotiators.
