Cross cultural teams are the norm, not the exception.

Global teams are now standard, not special cases. Even domestic teams often span cultures, regions, or professional norms. Many organizations are operating cross-culturally without realizing it.

When this reality is unmanaged, misinterpretations, assumptions, and documentation ambiguity surface regularly. This leads to decision friction, rework, and erosion of trust.

Organizations that manage cross-cultural norms well create a shared language, baseline clarity, and common standards of communication.

One practical shift makes a measurable difference. In cross-cultural environments, require communication to do three things consistently:

1.      State the intended outcome, not just the request.

2.      Separate facts from interpretation.

3.      Confirm shared understanding before action begins.

Cross-cultural success is rarely about language fluency. It’s about shared meaning, clear expectations, and consistent confirmation.

-- Ruth

posted on LinkedIn 01/06/2026