06 Sep Effective Cross-Cultural Communication
Gerardo Soula, Global Human Resources Leader with extensive international experience, joins host Solveig Brown to discuss effective cross-cultural communication, leading global teams, and mentoring across borders. Gerardo shares insights on how to influence effectively in a global context, roll out successful mergers and acquisitions, and bridge cultural differences to build stronger teams.
Key Takeaways on Cross-Cultural Communication
Gerardo emphasizes the importance of understanding the cultural context of the people you work with, especially in mentorship and leadership roles. He suggests that leaders take the following steps:
- Do your research: Understand the social, political, and economic conditions of your mentee or team member’s country.
- Acknowledge language differences: Be aware of how words can have different meanings in different countries, even if the language is the same.
- Build trust through empathy: Demonstrate that you respect and value diversity by taking the time to learn about the cultural norms of the people you are leading or mentoring.
Strategies for Leading Global Teams
Gerardo’s experience in leading teams across 20 countries given him valuable insights into the challenges of managing cross-cultural teams. His advice includes:
- Clarify expectations: Different cultures have different perceptions of time and communication styles. Be clear about deadlines and ensure that both sides understand key terms.
- Adapt your style: Flexibility is key when managing a diverse team. For example, some cultures prioritize socializing before diving into business discussions, while others prefer to get straight to the point.
- Facilitate open communication: In some cultures, junior team members may not feel comfortable speaking up in front of a leader. Creating smaller, one-on-one meetings can foster more open dialogue.
Mergers and Acquisitions: Melding Organizational Cultures
Gerardo also offers guidance on how to ensure successful mergers and acquisitions. This is especially important when it comes to blending two distinct organizational cultures.
- Conduct cultural due diligence: During the early stages of the merger, learn as much as possible about the target company’s culture, values, and practices.
- Change management: Establish a dedicated change management team to ensure seamless communication throughout the merger.
- Coach leaders: Leaders need to model the new culture that both organizations aim to create post-merger.
Building Trust in Remote Teams
Working remotely with teams in different countries can make it harder to build trust, but Gerardo suggests a few key tactics:
- Be consistent: Honoring commitments and following through on promises are essential to building trust.
- Lead by example: Show your team that you “walk the talk” by being a role model in your actions.
- Go above and beyond: Demonstrating that you’re willing to put in the extra effort, even without direct oversight, helps build credibility and influence.
Conclusion
Gerardo Soula’s insights on effective cross-cultural communication and leadership provide valuable lessons for anyone leading global teams or mentoring individuals from different cultural backgrounds. His emphasis on preparation, trust-building, and adaptability are key to creating effective and harmonious working relationships across borders.
About Gerardo Soula
Gerardo Soula is a global HR leader with experience across Latin America, North America, and Europe. He has led teams in over 20 countries and pioneered the first global people strategy for one of the world’s largest private companies. Gerardo has a proven track record of creating strategic HR programs that drive employee engagement and support business transformation. He is a recognized talent developer, diversity advocate, and has served on the board of one of Argentina’s largest companies. Gerardo is an experienced mentor with Menttium.