The New Age of Global Professionalism
Comprehending why cultural competence is essential to adapt to today’s global professionalism
With remote employment expanding during and after the pandemic, employers are scouting applicants with specific qualifications imperative to global professionalism. Governing laws and company policies vary depending on the state or country where the company is located. These vary due to the cultural and social norms that influence the implementation process and the professional etiquette of each company. Being culturally competent is essential to having and maintaining remote position in a foreign company. However, it is challenging as we have to become culturally competent without experiencing the culture.
Cultural competence is essential to the new age of global professionalism. Cultural competence requires awareness of one's cultural worldview, attitude towards cultural differences, knowledge of cultural practices and worldviews, and Cross-cultural Skills. These skills can increase an applicant’s probability of being hired and having a joyful journey.
Cultural competence allows new remote employees a smoother navigation through the stages of cultural shock in the workplace by allowing remote employees to explore the culture from a different and more positive perspective, providing a smoother transition through their adapting process and allowing them to have a better support system welcoming of their foreign peers.
Workplace cultural shock is feeling apprehensive and insecure in a new professional environment. The four stages of culture shock are the honeymoon, frustration, adaptation, and acceptance. In the workplace, the stages are identified by feelings of excitement, anger, missing your previous work environment, adjustment, and acceptance.
Although culture shock is natural, the intensity of our feelings and behavior can determine whether we face disruptive or non-disruptive culture shock. Recognizing the stages of culture shock in the workplace is essential to self-awareness, reflection, and action. Acknowledging those emotions and behaviors, finding solutions to alleviate those feelings, and getting through them will make it easier to address and shift our behavior.
For applicants to avoid losing a great job opportunity or experiencing disruptive cultural shock in the workplace, It is essential to explore the governing laws and cultural, subcultural, and social norms of the country where the company is located, especially those laws and standards significantly influencing the company’s internal dominant culture, subcultures and policies. An applicant with solid cultural competence is likelier to give the impression of high ethical and professional values. An optimistic and explorative mindset allows new remote employees to bond with coworkers of other cultures and enjoy the new journey ahead.
Reference
Access/Equity/Diversity Office. (2009, October). Dimensions in Cultural Competency. Lincoln, NE ; Sotu East Community College. http://cfs.cbcs.usf.edu/projects-research/_docs/DCC2%20Is%20Your%20Website%20Culturally%20Competent.pdf
Segal, T. (2022, November 10). Culture shock meaning, stages, and how to overcome. Investopedia. https://www.investopedia.com/terms/c/culture-shock.asp#:~:text=of%20Culture%20Shock%3F-,Culture%20shock%20is%20typically%20divided%20into%20four%20stages%3A%20the%20honeymoon,homesickness%2C%20adjustment%2C%20and%20acceptance
Sharma , S. (2022, September 7). Workplace culture shock: Which stage are you at? - ethrworldsea.ethrworld.com. https://hrsea.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/industry/workplace-culture-shock-which-stage-are-you-at/94028790
