Bringing Your Cultural Values to Work

Welcome

Learning outcomes

By the end of this module you will be able to:

You do not have to shrink to fit in

Benefits of bringing your cultural values to work

• Your values become an asset at workTap to see what this looks likeRespect, service and listening are not only personal things. They show up as work getting done, as a team that gets on, and as a place people want to stay. A workplace with a mix of ways of thinking is stronger than one without.Tap to turn back
• You have energyTap to see what this looks likeAll of it goes on getting the work done, instead of on defending yourself or acting like somebody you are not. It is the difference between finishing the week tired from the job and tired from the pretending.Tap to turn back
• People trust youTap to see what this looks likeYou are yourself even under pressure, so you are who you say you are. People can read that, and they stop guessing which version of you they are going to get.Tap to turn back
• You bring something the team does not already haveTap to see what this looks likeA room where everybody thinks the same way misses the same things. Knowing how to read a room, how to include people, how to handle a family obligation with grace. Those solve problems the team would otherwise walk into.Tap to turn back
• Other people can relate to youTap to see what this looks likeSomebody else in that room sees you being yourself and works out that they can be too. You did not have to say anything for that to happen.Tap to turn back

Quick check

Two questions on what you have just read.

Watch

Check what landed

Three questions on what you just watched. You can go back and watch it again at any time.

3 steps to bringing your cultural values to work

Know it, Read it, Bring it

• 1Know itWhich value is this, and why does it matter to you?Tap to see howKnow itKnow your values. Be clear on what they are and what they mean to you. It is about knowing who you are, what you believe and what you stand for. Your values guide how you make decisions, how you see the world and how you treat people. A value you have never put into words is one you will drop under pressure. Time off. Family and church commitments come first, and that is not negotiable for you. A quiet meeting. You were taught that listening before speaking is respect.Tap to turn back
• 2Read itWhat does this room expect, and what does this moment allow?Tap to see howRead itReading the room. It is about context. Knowing the setting, the environment and the people in the room. Knowing when to apply your values in a respectful way. How you apply your values in one setting might look different in another. It does not mean ignoring your values. It is about timing, place and people. Time off. Your manager is not hostile, they just do not know what the commitment involves. A quiet meeting. This room reads silence as having nothing to add.Tap to turn back
• 3Bring itHow do you offer it so this room can receive it?Tap to see howBring itIt is about applying or sharing your values in a respectful way. Not forcing it. Sharing it. And the purpose is not only to be yourself and feel comfortable. It is also to help other people, to improve the culture and the diversity of the place, and to get more done. That is when it becomes useful as well as comfortable. Time off. Give the date early and say plainly what it is, rather than calling in vague on the day. A quiet meeting. Keep listening first, then say the one thing you noticed while everyone else was talking.Tap to turn back

The value never changes. What changes is how and when you bring it into the room.

Quick check

Three questions on the three steps.

Remember these tips for being authentically you

• Know your whyBe clear enough about your own values that you are not shaken when somebody sees things differently. If family comes first for you, plan around it with confidence instead of apologising for it.
• Read the room before you speak upA team lunch is open to hearing about your background. A client meeting is more formal. Same value, different moment. Pace yourself and pick your time.
• Lead with respect firstWhen somebody sees it differently, get curious before you get defensive. Most of the time they are not being disrespectful, they just do not know.
• Find small ways to bring your culture inOpen a meeting with a greeting in your language. Wear something from home on a cultural day. Share a short story when it fits the conversation. Small and often beats one big statement.
• Remember these are not oppositesBeing on time, following through and doing quality work is professionalism. Warmth, humility and connection in how you do it is you. You can hold both at once.

Choose your values

Reflection

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