{"id":235,"date":"2013-12-11T20:02:26","date_gmt":"2013-12-11T20:02:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/scqa.hult.edu\/en\/news\/hult-labs\/2013\/december\/cross-cultural-conflict\/"},"modified":"2026-05-06T15:34:41","modified_gmt":"2026-05-06T14:34:41","slug":"the-challenge-of-cross-cultural-conflict-and-resolving-differences","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hult.edu\/blog\/the-challenge-of-cross-cultural-conflict-and-resolving-differences\/","title":{"rendered":"The Challenge of Cross-Cultural Conflict and Resolving Differences"},"content":{"rendered":"

What\u2019s your typical approach when you disagree with someone in a professional setting? Do you immediately voice your concerns, without thinking of your word choice or tone of voice? Do you attempt quiet diplomacy? Do you pretend everything is fine and hope in vain for harmony to return (that is, if you had in the first place)? Or, perhaps you don\u2019t think too much about how you handle conflict\u2014or the fact that it\u2019s fundamentally rooted in the culture that shaped you.<\/p>\n

If you hail from North America or Western Europe, there’s a good chance you\u2019re accustomed to speaking up when you disagree with someone. But if you are from an Eastern Asian country, for example, you may signal your disagreement in a less obvious way because direct confrontation just isn\u2019t done.<\/p>\n

In the article “How to Argue Across Cultures<\/a>,” Jeanne Brett, Kristin Behfar and Jeffrey Sanchez-Burks not only break down some examples of cross-cultural conflict like the one above, they also explain that we all have invisible boundary lines that are steeped in the cultures that produced us. These lines are formed as we grow up, go through school, and observe how those around us behave\u2014and they are hard to cross when we find ourselves in uncomfortable situations.<\/p>\n

So when we work with people of different cultural backgrounds\u2014with different boundary lines\u2014(a workplace dynamic that is increasingly the norm) and run into disagreement, we also have to navigate the invisible cultural layer that isn’t always explicit. It can obfuscate our ability to communicate and listen effectively if our cultural competency isn\u2019t strong. Unlike making the commitment to, say, think positively, it\u2019s much more challenging to recalibrate our own cultural style. Why? Because it means acting in a way that isn\u2019t natural. And unless you are a professionally trained thespian, this is very difficult to do\u2014and do well.<\/p>\n

The authors write: \u201cWesterners prefer to get issues out in the open, stating the problem and how they\u2019d like to see it resolved.\u00a0 [\u2026] That same approach is an anathema throughout East Asia, where the overriding impulse is to work behind the scenes through third parties to resolve conflicts, all the while maintaining harmony and preserving relationships.\u201d<\/p>\n

In his article “When Crossing Cultures, Use Global Dexterity<\/a>“, Andy Molinksy points out that “it is very common to feel awkward, inauthentic, or even resentful when trying to adapt behavior overseas. [\u2026] The negative feelings can leak into your performance and make you look awkward or unnatural.”<\/p>\n

But the answer, says Molinksy, isn\u2019t to turn into a cultural chameleon (very hard to do), but to become a cultural mixmaster of sorts. In other words: “Make the behavior your own. Behaving in a new culture isn\u2019t like hitting the bull\u2019s-eye of an archery target. In many cultures and in many situations, you have leeway to adjust, and by doing this smartly, you can achieve success without compromising your authenticity.”<\/p>\n

Molinsky had another really great piece of advice: find a \u201ccultural mentor\u201d. But not just any mentor\u2014someone who is familiar with the work you do and the specific challenges you\u2019re up against. Your cultural mentor can act as a sounding board for the decisions you are weighing, and the approaches and strategies you are mulling. And never forget, Molinksy says, to be clear with people that you are trying to learn their “cultural rules,” and that making mistakes is inevitable. It\u2019s also perfectly okay to ask for forgiveness when you run afoul.<\/p>\n

Because here’s the reality: if you want to be a successful team player\u2014and ultimately manage a globally-diverse team\u2014you need to have the ability to adapt your leadership style depending on who you are with, the environment you are in, and the circumstances surrounding you. This means taking on the role of a cultural anthropologist, which means paying attention to subtext, actively listening, asking questions\u2014and above all else, being genuine, because as Molinksy makes clear there\u2019s no faking that, irrespective of cultural differences.<\/p>\n

To read some helpful tips on how to increase your cultural competency, you can read “How to Argue Across Cultures<\/a>” in full here<\/a>. And also be sure to check out Andy Molinsky\u2019s article here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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To find out\u00a0more about Hult’s global\u00a0business programs<\/strong>,\u00a0download a brochure<\/a><\/p>\n

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Photo courtesy of Les Roches<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Make the most of what your career has to offer with a Masters in International Business<\/a> from Hult. To learn more, take a look at our blog Day of Disruption: Changing mindsets across Hult\u2019s global campuses<\/a>, or give your employability a huge boost with an MBA in international business<\/a>. Download a brochure or get in touch today to find out how Hult can help you to explore everything about the business world, the future, and yourself.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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