Cultural Competencies required for leading performance in the modern world

The global pandemic was a reflective experience for many of us, especially on the agility of our business, our employees, our leadership, our skills, and capabilities. It was also an opportunity to assess our personal and organizational resilience in its readiness to handle the disruptions and uncertainties still lingering in our post-pandemic world.

Companies and professionals in many parts of the world remain increasingly more accepting of remote work and working-from-home cultures, recognizing the cost-saving benefits such as commercial rental and business travel and benefits many employees may appreciate including flexible work and time-saving on commute.

The learning environment across organizations and institutions for many continents remains virtual to accommodate the hybrid work model. The cost and time-saving factors allow global teams to gather online without the need to travel to meet while travel restrictions in many countries are still enforced.

Today, we can fast-track learning on technology, data analysis, AI, and other technical skills and knowledge upgrades. Topics relating to leading and working with diverse teams in complex environments and striving to understand cultural complexity and personalities are skills that cannot be fast-tracked but only through cumulative experience throughout our careers. Skills such as self-direction and motivation, adaptive communication, cultural competence, empathy, inclusive and adaptive leadership are also skills that have become much needed since the pandemic.

While many organizations paused their Learning and Development activities in the early pandemic months, post-pandemic has seen a green light and positive outlook for many businesses to resume their staff development plans. Surveys of students and employers at McMaster Continuing Education indicate that virtual learning will likely remain the preferred mode of delivery for the foreseeable future.

Managers and learning professionals looking for support to elevate individual, team or leadership development need to understand that there are a variety of effective strategies to lead teams across different cultures to support your team in reaching to their goals. Before we attempt to lead a team, understanding individual personalities and the culture they have been cultivated in will give many clues to how we can motivate team members or build a collaborative and high-performing team.

About the Author

Cecilia Lui, Founder & Director, ILIA Connect

Cecilia is an instructor in McMasters’ Intercultural Competency program

Originally from Hong Kong, Cecilia has spent her 30+ years career between Canada and the Asia Pacific working for multinationals across sectors and industries in corporate administration, communications, business development and learning & development.

Cecilia holds an MA in Communications from California State University, is a Certified Practitioner of Lumina Learning psychometrics for self-team/leadership development and has credentials for Coaching, NLP, and Career & Business Planning.

Cecilia has been an adjunct lecturer at HKUSPACE (International Business Communication Skills) and Hong Kong Baptist University for its Communication Master’s Program.

E: cecilia@iliaconnect.com