Priya PatraDelivery Director| Capgemini India Technology Services LtdMumbai, India
Today's teams are global and virtual.
How important is it for a project manager to be culturally intelligent ?
Would love to know your thoughts ! Saving Changes...
Peter RapinSubject Matter Expect; Project Delivery| Independent ConsultantOntario, Canada
Fancy words and thoughts but all it really means is RESPECT. That applies to race, culture, sexual orientation, religion, handicaps, experience - basically all that adds up to, and is, an individual person. You don't have to know all these details of what makes up a person, just respect them as a person. As a Project Manager your only concern is what the person brings to the project.
A culture is the accumulation of persons and if you respect each person as an individual the result is recognition and acceptance of their culture. Saving Changes...
Yudhistira PratamaProgram Manager| Sinclair Broadcast GroupBellevue, Wa, United States
Cultural intelligence is very important to everyone and not just project managers. Of course, in our profession as project managers, we are often called upon to demonstrate it more. This is because we tend to work in a diverse team setting.
In my opinion, a project manager that is culturally intelligent exhibits the following three traits:
1. Genuine curiosity,
2. Humility, and
3. Respect for people & culture.
With these 3 traits, anyone, not just project managers, can successfully avoid committing some cultural faux pas. Saving Changes...
Project Managers today need to do their utmost to be alert and observant to the various cultures of team members, especially considering the fact that it is inevitable to work with virtual teams in current day. Communication is key for team cohesion, focus and performance. Cultural aspects are sensitive and most often hinder communication and understanding. Being cultural intelligent will improve project performance. Saving Changes...
Hector ArochaSenior Consultant| Intrinz IncNoblesville, In, United States
Great topic. It made me remember a famous $6 Billion 2-year delay on the Airbus A380 development and delivery: "personal and cultural rivalries, at the very top level and below, got in the way of efficiency and openness". It was German vs French cultures. https://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/11/busines...us.3860198.html Saving Changes...
I think that cultural intelligence is the "must have" skill for the project manager. In my opinion it is one of the most important competences of a leader of the 21st century. Especially if we work in an international environment. I think that the classic competences are not enough to effectively lead a multicultural team. It is essential to know how to avoid communication traps awaiting us in global organizations.
I think that the better we get to know the different cultures, the better we get to know ourselves. Saving Changes...
I would say it’s critical. Culture for me constructs a basis for finding the right flow with the team and it's inevitable for building an effective (project) work environment. When we do not work F2F we need to work on culture with higher awareness. Saving Changes...
Understanding the cultural differences within a global team is key for effective team building and eventually for successful project delivery. There are no silver bullets and you need empathy to optimize and motivate your team members. Saving Changes...
This topic should be thought in schools. Taking a project before understanding the real cultural interdependence is a risk. At least one team member should be of same culture to make it more confortable. Saving Changes...
Bruce FinchCEO| Bruce Finch ConsultingLayton, Ut, United States
On a multinational or multicultural team a PM's ability to connect, motivate and communicate is critical to the success of the project. I earned an MBA/Global Management from University of Phoenix (UOP). UOP education model requires working professions in the field to be a faculty member. Many of my professors were expats from across the world or had worked overseas for many years. They helped me create a process of how to lead or interact with individuals from anywhere. As stated in previous posts, Respect is key. Part of expressing respect, research the country, culture and business norms of business that those individual countries. Equally important is industry culture that may span countries as regional or global. My process: Respect, Research to understand, Listen to understand and Build relationships where teammates are willing to tell you that you violated a cultural norm. Saving Changes...
