Episode 12: My Culture In Their Cubicle

Written By Andrea McCoy

Navigating a new workplace culture can be akin to learning a new language, especially for immigrants who bring their own rich cultural tapestries to the cubicle. The transformation from unfamiliar jargon to fluency is a journey that many endure and conquer. With insights from our recent podcast episode, "Culture In The Cubicle," we shed light on the experiences of newcomers and the challenges of acclimating to Canadian workplace culture.

Understanding the Complexity of Culture

Culture is an intricate web of values, customs, beliefs, traditions and social norms— often distinguished when in comparison to another culture. For immigrants stepping into the Canadian workforce, this web can be more tangled than it first appears. The challenges of aligning one's personal culture with the workplace culture are often underestimated, yet profoundly significant. This distinction becomes especially poignant when personal and corporate cultures intersect within the confines of an office, a building, a restaurant or wherever a person may work.

Workplace Culture: A Silent Code

The culture of a workplace contains a certain code, a dialect if you will, which employees must navigate with precision. Imagine entering a new workplace where every Monday requires you to bring a dessert to share—but nobody tells you. It’s an unwritten rule, yet knowing this could make all the difference in feeling part of the team.

If we understood that people are trying to navigate that dialect, maybe we'd be better at communicating those expectations.

The Professionalism Paradigm

Is professionalism cultural? Is professionalism relative? Inherent? We think this term is fluid, heavily influenced by cultural backdrops. Professional norms in one country can drastically oppose those in another. Hostion reflected on his time in Japan where professionalism equated to not leaving work before your boss does. Such practices starkly contrast with those in Canada, where work-life balance often takes precedence over such hierarchies, where tech employees wear flip-flops and happy hour leads you side by side with the CEO.

Authenticity vs. Professionalism

The true test of an inclusive work environment lies in its ability to embrace diverse definitions of professionalism without compromising authenticity. For newcomers, bringing their authentic selves to work can be one of the most daunting aspects due to lingering questions about safety and acceptance.

Authenticity sometimes is really dependent on safety - this is why it is crucial to create workplaces that allow for all voices to be heard, all identities seen.

Bridging Cultures for a Cohesive Environment

When workplace and personal cultures create synergy, everyone benefits. Encouragement for immigrants navigating these terrains is simple yet profound: be curious, patient, and advocate for mentors who can help translate the corporate cultural dialect into understandable terms. Never be afraid to voice what you need for your own success.

Final Thoughts

Creating a workplace culture that respects and integrates diverse backgrounds doesn't just happen overnight. It requires effort, understanding, and a commitment from both employers and employees.

As workplaces evolve, the onus is on leaders to craft an environment where authenticity and professionalism coexist—an environment where the dialect of culture feels like a conversation rather than a puzzle.

Let these insights serve as a guide as you, whether an immigrant or not, navigate the nuanced paths of workplace culture. By staying informed and empathetic, we can all contribute to more inclusive, understanding, and dynamic workplaces.

If you have any experiences or thoughts on workplace culture, we invite you to share them with us. Your story is an integral part of the larger narrative, one that continues to shape workspaces everywhere.

Andrea McCoy https://www.janklin.ca
Next

Episode 11: In The Face Of A Bully