By Leslie Shankar
In a global organization, success depends on more than technical expertise. It depends on understanding how people communicate, build trust and make decisions across cultures.
For me, a Systems Engineer supporting medical device programs, global collaboration is part of my everyday work. Based in the United States and working closely with teams in Germany, Italy and Asia, I see firsthand how cultural differences shape the way projects move forward.
That experience inspired me to participate in the Culture Map assessment, a tool designed to help employees better understand cross-cultural communication and collaboration.
The assessment provided practical insights into how different cultures approach trust, feedback, communication and decision-making. One of the most valuable lessons centered on the importance of consensus.
As an action-oriented engineer, my natural tendency is to move quickly once the facts support a decision. The assessment helped highlight that some cultures place a greater emphasis on ensuring all stakeholders have been heard and aligned before moving forward. Recognizing that difference helped explain previous experiences where decisions resurfaced for discussion after they appeared resolved.
The insight reinforced an important leadership lesson: We should intentionally build alignment rather than assume we have it.
The experience also highlighted the importance of creating space for every voice to contribute. In global teams, silence does not necessarily indicate agreement. Language differences, communication styles and cultural norms can all influence participation. Successful collaboration requires leaders and team members to actively seek input and ensure expertise is not lost because someone feels uncomfortable speaking up.
Cultural awareness is ultimately about curiosity and continuous learning.
Rather than using cultural frameworks to stereotype people, I see them as tools that help employees recognize potential differences and approach conversations with greater openness. Understanding cultural tendencies can provide useful context, but meaningful relationships still come from getting to know people as individuals.
My experience working with global teams has also reinforced the value of personal connections. Whether through site visits, informal conversations or everyday interactions, building relationships creates trust that strengthens collaboration long after the meeting ends.
As organizations become increasingly global, the ability to understand and work effectively across cultures is becoming a critical business skill. By embracing different perspectives and learning from one another, teams can make better decisions and solve more complex challenges, creating stronger outcomes for customers around the world.