What are the differences and similarities of cultural sensitivity and cultural awareness?

Cultural Sensitivity and Awareness: As part of my professional development, I enrolled in the Executive Leadership Institute at UCLA’s Anderson School of Business some years ago and completed the program with a focused concentration in Diversity in the Workplace.  

At the time I was enrolled in the program, Gay Marriage was “the” thorny issue that employers were wrestling with; today, however, the Black Lives Matters movement, with protests occurring throughout the country, is the biggest concern for many workplace cultures; therefore, I’ve been researching the latest in Best Practices and re-reviewing the periodicals I relied on in the Executive Leadership Program to determine their relevancy in today’s social climate and, hopefully, to assist organizations charter a newer, better, more open approach to all business practices.

As a seasoned professional - and a gay man that came out of the closet at the height of the AID’s epidemic – I continually seek out methodologies for how I can be more sensitive to the needs of others - particularly those that face discrimination and prejudice by those who lack the knowledge, skills and understanding of what it’s like not to be a white heterosexual in the U.S. 

When many of us hear the word “Diversity” we customarily assume that it’s a reference to race; however, while race is certainly one of the primary tenets to be examined and addressed in any Diversity & Inclusion program, that’s only part of it. Truth is, “diversity” is intended to go way beyond the color of one’s skin to include religion, social norms, LGBT issues, the disabled, ageism, education, culture, city vs rural, as well as a host of other differences that set one apart from their co-workers.

Cultural awareness and sensitivity means being aware of one's own world view, developing positive attitudes toward cultural differences, and gaining knowledge of different practices and world views. Our differences can benefit us but only if we are aware of them.

Cultural Awareness: Cultural awareness requires self-reflection and, as Socrates put it, “The unexamined life is not worth living.”  Without self-reflection, there’s no opportunity for personal growth and development. In essence, Cultural Awareness is the ability to step back and become aware of how your values, beliefs, perceptions, and attitudes affect your interactions with others. It is the ability to identify your roots, to understand your behavior, and to define your own frame of reference before attempting to relate to another.

Your experiences and cultural background play a huge role in how and why you think and act. Since ingrained labels can affect how we relate to each other, it is important to look at one’s own biases, stereotypes, and prejudices. To do this, ask yourself questions such as: Why do I believe what I believe? Why do I act in a specific manner? Where do my biases come from? How can I move beyond them? Is my perception of someone rooted in specific actions and behaviors you’ve personally observed or is it based upon other factors such as: what do others think or believe?

From a personal and professional perceptive, self-reflection is a necessary pursuit in order to enhance the relationships in your life, expand your mind and frame of reference, as well as to allow those with different skin colors, speech patterns, customs, values and ideas to feel included and valued in today’s workplace, or even within one’s family.

Cultural Sensitivity: Cultural awareness can signify that you are culturally sensitive. Cultural sensitivity is being aware that cultural differences and similarities between people exist without assigning them a value -- positive or negative, better or worse, right or wrong. It means that you are aware that people are not all the same; and that you recognize your culture is no better than any other culture.

To be culturally sensitive, it is important to be informed about other cultures and beliefs. A person who is well-informed about various cultures tends to be more open-minded and respectful to other groups. You understand that cultural differences, such as social, political, and economic history and norms, values, behavior, and communication styles can affect your relationships. Cultural sensitivity requires you to be open and flexible so that everyone is comfortable with one another. It is essential to recognize that everyone sees things differently and what one considers normal and acceptable may be unacceptable to others.

The chasm that’s created by differences in expectations, styles, assumptions, values, body language, and privilege is critically important to know and understand. Each minority community understands that great differences separate them from European American mainstream cultures. By contrast, the European American communities do not have much awareness of the magnitude of differences.

Research shows that many Europeans do not experience cultural differences as a central concern in their daily lives to the extent that American’s do. For minority communities, the differences are not only central, but vast and inescapable. The consequences of gaps in collaboration and communication are devastating to all communities and to our nation. For minority communities, the consequences are unequal and severely limited access to education, employment, healthcare, property, and political influence. The results are extreme disadvantages passed from generation to generation.

Elements of Cultural Sensitivity: By developing cultural sensitivity, trust and mutual respect can be improved between all people and cultures. Practicing cultural sensitivity requires an open attitude, self-awareness, awareness of others, cultural knowledge, and cultural skills. Below are the main elements of cultural sensitivity.

Open Attitude: My personal and professional manta has always been the practice of “open and honest communication.” To possess an open attitude, we move forward with a spirit of curiosity about ourselves and others. We acknowledge that there is much we do not know, and we are ready to receive new information with an open mind. We are prepared to expose ourselves to diverse ideas and alternative viewpoints whenever we can engage with people we might consider different from ourselves. Some elements of an open attitude include:

<   Being open to a wide variety of ideas and approaches

<   Seeking out divergent views and contrary arguments

<  Considering the full range of pros and cons on an issue

Self-awareness: Another element of cultural sensitivity is self-awareness regarding our own worldview. We shine light onto our own culture, beliefs, background, values, and privilege. This allows us to explore more objectively what we may subconsciously bring to every interpersonal interaction. Components of self-awareness include:

<        Understanding our own historical roots, personal background, privilege, and culture

<   Awareness of our assumptions, biases, and judgments

<   Knowledge of strengths and limitations

<   Ability to recognize our personal biases, cultural incompetence, or exclusive behavior

<   Capacity for self-reflection and intervention

<   Possess the necessary grace and humility to acknowledge when/if you’ve acted in a manner which may have harmed another and/or been inappropriate

Awareness of Others:  This process of self-evaluation helps to develop awareness of others, which is the recognition that all individuals are uniquely programmed with their own background, worldview, beliefs, and values. While these may be different than our own, they are equally valid and valuable.

Cultural Knowledge: Cultural knowledge means the acquisition of information about others' values, norms, and beliefs, as we:

<   Seek cultural insight through books, journal articles, diaries and memoirs

<   Interact with diverse groups

<   Develop partnerships with people and groups who advocate for others

Cultural Skills: With practice, the cultural knowledge that we obtain can develop into cultural skills, which includes asking more informed questions about another's values, norms, and beliefs. Valuable cultural skills include:

<        The use of active listening skills

<        Establishing relationships based on mutual trust

<        Clearly identifying areas of conflict or concern and recognizing their impact

<        Practice open and honest communication and ask questions or seek a better understanding when/if there’s a misunderstanding or possible conflict

Creating Change in your Culture: Within one’s own (spiritual or familial) community we recognize that our thoughts determine our beliefs and our actions.  So, it is important to look at thoughts and beliefs, especially long-held beliefs, and to be open to making some changes and viewing things in a different light – especially if those long-held thoughts and beliefs negatively impact your interactions and/or personal relationships. When we genuinely believe that all people have value, each with their own gift to share, our attitudes shift, and our actions follow. We all have beliefs and attitudes about culture, race, ethnicity, sex, and gender identity which includes or excludes others. By looking at these, we can each begin to make the necessary changes within our lives and our society.

Once we recognize diversity and practice ways to become more culturally aware and sensitive, we can start to connect cultures. Below you’ll find some ideas to incorporate within your company’s values statements:

Develop an open mind. Make a deliberate attempt to learn about another culture. Constantly observe and question why people hold certain beliefs.

Practice open and honest communication with people from diverse range of cultures and ask them questions about their traditions, beliefs, and thoughts about the world.

Appreciate differences among people and learn to accept them, which will foster a positive learning mindset. Cultural diversity could be an advantage because people with different backgrounds will approach problems in new and innovative ways, offering more solutions to problems.

Admit that we do not know everything. It is okay to say, "I don't know" or "I may be wrong, but..." Admitting that we do not know everything and that our assumptions may be inaccurate is part of becoming culturally aware and sensitive.

Refrain from making judgments. Before evaluating a situation or person, try to gather substantial information so that we can accurately describe the situation.

Be empathetic and compassionate. Try to experience another's feelings, thoughts, or attitudes to understand the person. The goal is that, through empathy, we learn of how other people would like to be treated.

Question your assumptions. Ask others for feedback on how we handled a specific situation and regularly check assumptions to make sure that we clearly understand the circumstance and the context.

Become comfortable with ambiguity. Accept that others can teach us and that their way can add to what we know.

Practice interpersonal skills. Listen actively in a non-judgmental manner. Challenge concepts about diversity. Be sensitive toward terms labeling groups regarding diversity. Identify diversity issues and understand related tensions. Express respect and appreciation. Be open to learning about others who are different.

The Benefits of Cultural Awareness and Sensitivity: Cultural awareness and sensitivity make us global citizens. It helps us break down barriers and build cultural bridges. When we break down those barriers, we learn to love those who are different from us. We see the beauty in our diversity which can truly make the world a better place. A few of the immediate benefits are that we understand the world better; we minimize stereotypes; we prevent and overcome ethnic and racial divisions; we resolve conflicts; we promote understanding; we learn different ways of doing things; and, we become more prepared to thrive in an ever-changing world.

Hiring top talent requires that your organization be constantly evaluating how you can be more open, honest, sensitive and aware of your employee’s needs. Furthermore, by making a commitment - and an investment - into staying abreast of Best Practices in interviewing, hiring, onboarding, developing, managing, directing, evaluating, promoting and terminating, you will create an open comforting and more enlighten environment that will foster a more productive and cohesive workplace where employees feel more appreciated, valued and satisfied.

Bottom Line: Understanding and honoring people from all cultures and all communities, each with its own values, beliefs, and norms, keeps the focus on peace and harmony, the foundational principle of unity in diversity. It takes all of us to reflect the full view of our higher power.

For more information on how to develop a Cultural Sensitivity and Awareness Program for your specific organization, don’t hesitate to contact me.

Mike Russell, M.S., M.A. Human Capital Consultant/HRM Strategist 773-807-8437

https://www.linkedin.com/in/orgdevsolutions/ https://twitter.com/russmike4 https://www.orgdev-solutions.com

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