5 fun cross cultural communication activities to try with your team

Cross-cultural communication is critical in any organization, as it allows teams to work cohesively towards a common goal despite different backgrounds, beliefs, and customs. Effective cross-cultural communication can lead to increased productivity, reduced conflict, and improved relationships between team members. However, understanding and adapting to different cultural communication styles can be a challenge. To help mitigate this challenge, here are five fun cross-cultural communication activities that teams can try to encourage better cross-cultural communication:

1. Pass the Story: This activity requires teams to form a circle, and the first person begins by whispering a sentence to the person beside them. Each person in the circle whispers the sentence to the next person until it reaches the final person. The final person then shares what they heard with the group. This activity helps to highlight how communication can be distorted or misunderstood through language and cultural differences.

2. Cultural Show and Tell: In this activity, team members take turns sharing an object that symbolizes their culture and explaining its significance. This activity allows team members to share and learn about each other’s culture, promoting understanding and acceptance of differences.

3. Cultural Bingo: This activity involves creating a bingo card with cultural norms, beliefs, and customs found within the team. During team meetings, team members can mark off these cultural differences as they arise. This activity encourages team members to reflect on cultural differences and promotes thoughtful consideration of how to communicate and work effectively with people from different backgrounds.

4. Food Sharing: Sharing food is a common way of showcasing a culture’s unique culinary traditions. In this activity, team members can bring in a cultural dish to share with the team, and spend time discussing the dish and its significance. This activity allows team members to bond through their shared interest in food and learn more about cultural traditions.

5. Cultural Roleplay: This activity involves dividing the team into two groups based on different cultural backgrounds. Each group then creates a scenario reflecting cultural differences in communication styles or customs. Team members roleplay as members of the assigned culture and interact with each other. This activity provides an opportunity for team members to understand and practice effective communication skills in a cross-cultural setting.

In conclusion, cross-cultural communication is imperative for effective teamwork. These five fun cross-cultural communication activities can encourage team members to understand and adapt to different communication styles, promote cultural acceptance, and build lasting relationships.