Workplace Culture
  Michael Henders Cultures At Work
  
 
 
 
 
Kiwi v Aussie culture is alive and well
Recently I had the opportunity to give a presentation in Auckland to a group of around 50 business leaders and directors. The topic was on culture and the role of leaders/directors understanding culture in relation to corporate governance.

It was a great session with a great group. Lots of engaging, small group, conversations on the points i was covering . Yet it was...

 

It was a great session with a great group. Lots of engaging, small group, conversations on the points i was covering . Yet it was

the interaction, or lack of it, as a whole group that was cultural indicator of the difference speakers and presenters of information often experience in New Zealand. Yes, there are regional differences in New Zealand to how an audience responds to a speaker/presenter yet consistently, when asking questions of groups across the northern, central the eastern parts of OZ (Australia that is, not the land of..) I get verbal feedback even it's people telling me to pull my head in!

Whilst the cultural reasoning for Kiwi hesitance to provide feedback in large groups can be explained and understood, I don't see it serving us in business. When we stay silent we give the people presenting us with information additional power they may not deserve.

By staying silent, a group creates collective acknowledgement of the 'rightness/wisdom' of the points being made by a speaker. even when the speaker may be factually or contextually wrong.

People, particularly leaders, need to become comfortable with supporting or challenging information being presented in group situations. Verbal acknowledgement of a question or a spoken challenge to a point being made, creates the opportunity to gain a richer understanding of what is being shared, who is sharing it and how it is being received. Unlocking the power of cultures requires building a workplace culture where verbal 'acknowledgement' is accepted, encouraged and done with respect for all concerned.

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