Baruch College
MGT 3120 Abe Tawil
Beyond Diversity…
To
Cultural Competency
Building Bridges to Understanding
Presented by:
Rodney L. Brown, M.HS.
Helix Consulting LLC
1467 Matheron Avenue
Baldwin, NY 11510
516-223-0063
www.Brownbridges.com
Rodney L. Brown, M.H.S.
Founding Partner
Helix Consulting, LLC.
Professional Experience
Founding Partner of Helix Consulting, LLC>Practicing Mediator, Arbitrator and Trainer/Facilitator.
Primary Practice Areas
Labor Mediation, Grievance Mediation, Organizational Assessment, Systems Design, Trainer/Facilitator
Specialties
Needs Assessment, Curriculum Design, Mediation Training, Diversity, Communication Skills
Dispute Resolution Experience and Training
Has maintained an active mediation and training practice since 1993. Has taught Basic Mediation at Touro Law School, The Education and Assistance Center and for representatives of Unions and Management in Health Care Institutions. Has designed and implemented Conflict Resolution/Mediation Training Programs for Cornell University’s School of Industrial Relations. Certified Mediation Trainer for New York State Office of Court Administrator. Has been trained as an Arbitrator for Labor issues. Administrator of Mediation programs for American Arbitration Association and Education Assistance Center of Long Island. Designed and implemented Peer Mediation Training Programs for more than twenty school districts in the New York metropolitan area. Has designed and implemented training programs for organizations, educational institutions, non-profit organizations, and faith-based organizations in the areas of Diversity, Communication, Conflict Resolution, Team Building., Labor/Management Collaboration. Some of his clients are: League of Voluntary Hospitals/1199, Prudential, Consolidated Edison, Cornell University, Hofstra University, State of New York Governor’s Office of Employee Relations.
Education
Education Policy Fellowship Program – New York University – 1993
Master of Human Services Degree – Lincoln University – 1992
Additional Information
Rodney is a nationally sought after trainer/consultant/ speaker. He has presented at national and international conferences on Mediation, Conflict Resolution and other related areas.
Diversity Defined
Diversity means different or varied.
The mosaic of people who bring a variety of backgrounds, styles, perspectives, values, and beliefs as assets to the groups and organizations with which they interact is Diversity in Action.
Cultural Competency is recognizing, appreciating, valuing and utilizing the unique talents and contributions of all individuals.
Video: “Brain Power”
“How we perceive and interpret decisions, circumstances and interactions has a huge impact on your performance and motivation and the job.” Dr. Albrecht
Recognition
The process whereby we attempt to relate what we see to something we already know.
Interpretation
Describes a process where the brain will attempt to bend new, unclassifiable information and interpret it into something it can recognize.
Expectation
A strongly held readiness to perceive one thing as opposed to alternative possibilities.
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Recognition
+
Interpretation
+
Expectation
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Perception: A broad term uses to describe the way we take in and decipher information.
Considerations for Interaction with Other Cultures
Social Space
Different cultures have different average distances at which people stand to talk to each other. Of course, this varies according to the circumstances and the relationships of the people.
- What is the distance at which you feel most comfortable speaking to another person?
- How do you feel when someone stands too close to you? Too far?
- About how far is that?
Touching
Where, how and how often people touch each other while conversing are often determined by cultural norms. In many cultures, some touching is acceptable between people of the same gender, but not between males and females, even husbands and wives, if they are in public. Males holding hands has no connotation except friendship in many countries.
How do you feel when someone touches your arm or hand?
- How well do you need to know a person in order for you to feel comfortable when he or she taps you casually?
- Have you ever tapped a person casually and had him or her react strongly?
- Might culture have been a factor?
- How do you react to same‑sex touching?
Volume of Voice
In some cultures, children are taught that a soft voice is polite, a loud voice rude. In other cultures, a loud voice indicates strength of conviction, passion in one’s belief.
What sounds right to you?
- How do you feel when you perceive that someone is yelling at you?
- How about when someone is speaking softer than you are used to?
- What assumptions do you make about someone who speaks softly in a meeting?
- How about loudly?
Eye Contact
In some cultures, eye contact is perceived as an integral part of human contact. In others, it is seen as disrespectful, rude, aggressive or flirtatious. Lack of eye contact, on the other hand, can be perceived as lack of attention by some, or as showing lack of interest, low self-esteem or dishonesty.
- How do you feel when someone looks right at you throughout a conversation?
- Does it make you feel uncomfortable or does it make you feel listened to?
- How about when someone doesn’t look at you as much as you are accustomed to?
Gestures
Pointing with a finger is considered very rude in some cultures. Pointing with a foot is considered rude in others. In other cultures, pointing is a mainstay of everyday human interaction.
- What are gestures that you consider rude?
- Are they the same for the person sitting next to you?
Timing of Verbal Exchanges and Silence
In some cultures, when conversing, normal behavior is an immediate response to every exchange. Silence is perceived as disinterest or lack of attention, and makes some people uncomfortable. However, in other cultures, people anticipate silence before a response. In this case, a response said too quickly can indicate a lack of proper thought to what the other person said. What is not said may be more important in the exchange than what is said.
- How do you feel when people respond to you quickly?
- Do you feel that they have not thought enough about what you said; do you feel that they are responding properly?
- How about when someone takes some time before responding?
- Does that indicate a well‑thought‑out response to you?
- Do you interpret a slow response as an indication that the person has limited intelligence?
Smiles
Smiles in some cultures are commonly used to cover anger, embarrassment or upset. Smiles in other cultures express “thank you” or “I’m sorry.” In some cultures, a smile is considered flirtatious, a “come on.”
- How do you perceive smiles? Do you smile at people in public, or is your smile reserved for family and friends?
- How do you feel when you smile at someone and he or she doesn’t smile back?