Illustration of diversity
Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay.

Culture: the customs and social norms an individual subscribes to and is influenced by. Culture affects just about every aspect of our lives, including how we cope with difficulties, approach problems, and seek help for difficulties.

An individual’s culture may comprise family of origin, ethnicity, spirituality, sexuality, life philosophy, as well as the norms of their profession and workplace… Cultural influences are pervasive and often subconscious.

In a globalised world, and especially in heterogeneous societies like Australia, we are more likely to encounter people outside of our own culture than ever before. Engaging effectively with someone’s culture is a powerful way to establish and build deeper and more productive working alliances.

Preparatory attitudes and awareness:

Early engagement:

Deepening understanding:

We can be from seemingly wildly divergent cultures and still get each other.


Another aspect to consider is the elements that cultures project onto us. We may be able to hold a blank slate, others may not. How do we deal with that?