Month: September 2019

Meeting people for the first time can be scary, especially if you are a shy person. Most of the time, you will have no idea on how to strike a conversation with the other individual. At the same time, you may also get too conscious about your actions or words. When this happens, you tend to make mistakes or errors. As such, it is imperative to learn smart ways on how you can deal with the new people that you meet or encounter daily.

As America becomes increasingly diverse and moves ever closer to being the world’s first majority-minority nation, the need for cultural competence in all areas of health care becomes ever more acute. — Fabiana Franco, PhD

Before anything else, you need to train your mind that connecting with other people is an important step for your own personal and career development. For this reason, you must start to make an effort to foster good relationships or connections with strangers. Here are the top things to instill in your mind:

Never Make Unnecessary Comments

The first step to consider is to avoid giving negative comments or unnecessary remarks to the other person. Do not forget that you are only meeting for the first time. As such, it is essential to be careful with what you are going to say. Otherwise, you may end up annoying or offending the person that you are talking. If you want to say something to the other person, it is recommended that you think about it first.

A moment’s reflection reveals that language is a repository of cultural knowledge, one that captures and provides effective cues to a complex body of shared values, experiences and even a common past. — Vyv Evans Ph.D.

Get To Know Him First

Another thing that you have to do is to make an effort to reach out to the other person and get to know him. Do not be afraid to ask questions, as long as your inquiries are reasonable. The other person will appreciate it if you will try to strike a conversation with him and sustain it. As much as possible, refrain from asking personal questions. Take note that it is essential to respect boundaries when it comes to this matter.

Relax And Keep Your Cool

Do not have a flight or fly attitude when it comes to dealing with the new people you meet. It is only normal if you feel nervous or anxious about your first time interaction with them. Nonetheless, it is not an excuse to keep yourself stressed during the first encounter. All you must do is to train yourself to relax and keep your cool. Remember that when you start to panic, there is a higher chance that you will not be able to converse well with the other individual.

Not everyone shares the same norms as you. Try to imagine their perspective. — Marianna Pogosyan Ph.D.

Enjoy The Company

Let the other person know that you are enjoying your first meeting or introduction. You can do this by listening to his words seriously. As much as possible, respond to all his statements so that you can sustain the conversation. The other person will surely appreciate it if he can see that you are keen on talking to him. As such, refrain from using your phone while talking or doing other stuff while he is around. Give all your attention and focus on him so that he will feel better about you.

There are several things that you need to keep in mind when it comes to becoming culturally sensitive to everyone around you. It is an important trait, especially if you are the kind of person who travels a lot or who meets various people for work. Keep in mind that your beliefs, practices, and culture may be different from those that you encounter. Because of this, there is a necessity on your part to become culturally sensitive wherever you go.

As much as the sea matters to the fish that call it home; as much as the earth matters to the roots that it nurtures. Our cultures—diverse and magnificent—color the way we experience the world and shed light on the wonder that is to be human. — Marianna Pogosyan Ph.D.

In this article, we are going to share some of the tips and tricks that you must remember if you want to avoid offending other people, particularly when it comes to their culture. Make sure to read the article from start to finish so that you can master the art of becoming culturally sensitive. Here are the top things to remember:

Educate Yourself

As much as possible, keep yourself updated with the latest information about the different cultures around you. Do not just rely on your personal knowledge or facts that you hear from other people. It is crucial to read and research on your own so that you can absorb the information easily. For example, if you are traveling to a new country soon, it is best if you will educate yourself about the practices and cultures of the people residing there. In so doing, you will not have a hard time connecting with them.

In mental health, as in other areas, interventions to promote cultural competency have often been focused on providing education about specific groups in an effort to avoid potential pitfalls. — Fabiana Franco, PhD

Avoid Being Too Proud

It can be exciting to share how proud you are of your own culture with everyone you meet. Such an act is a good thing since you are giving the other person an opportunity to get to know you. However, this becomes problematic if you will try to insist or impose your own set of beliefs on others. Keep in mind that you can still make friends with someone without being too proud of what you do or where you came from. Be respectful by thinking twice before you will open your mouth.

…there is evidence that the collectivist nature of East Asian cultures versus individualistic Western cultures affects both brain and behavior. East Asians tend to process information in a global manner whereas Westerners tend to focus on individual objects. — Rick Nauert PhD

Ask Questions

Is there something that is bothering you about the culture of the other person? Do you want to learn or find out more about the basis for his current beliefs and traditions? If yes, all you must do is to strike a conversation with the said person and ask questions. Do not hesitate to seek clarification about certain matters. Keep in mind that it is better to get direct information or explanation from him, instead of making unnecessary assumptions.

Conclusions

Being culturally sensitive means having the right attitude when it comes to dealing with people who have a different set of traditions, beliefs and values from you. Always remind yourself that you can still co-exist with the other person, as long as you know how to do the right things. Avoid making any prejudices against the other person, especially if you have recently met. It is best to get to know him first before you make any conclusions. Otherwise, you may commit a mistake or error.