Anyone who doubts the impact of culture needs look no further than current news headlines, which center around the Middle East. And perhaps the primary cause of ongoing conflict in the region is Muslims wish to retain their culture. Indeed, in his keynote speech at last week’s annual conference of the Muslim World League (MWL) in Makkah, King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia called upon Muslims to be modern while respecting their cultural heritage.
Body language and physical gestures are one of the most important – and misunderstood – facets of communication, one of the 7 cultural factors that impact the workplace. From posture to tone of voice, it’s important to learn which gestures and other forms of physical communication are appropriate – and which aren’t.
Worldwide, religion is one of the key factors in workplace cultural diversity. Employees want religious beliefs and practices to be accommodated, including time during the workday for rituals, and time off from work for observances.
