Effectiveness of a Multicultural Team

by Mary Bauer, studioD Google

Putting people of different cultures together on a team is like handing a set of watercolors to a sketch artist who has always worked with charcoal. At first, the artist may feel awkward, but the new medium opens a whole new range of possibilities and boosts his creativity. Multicultural teams often experience similar unease with the unfamiliarity of other ethnic groups and they may take a little longer to get to know and understand each other, but the end result is well worth the extra time. Differing views bring richness and creativity to decision making and problem solving.


Cultural differences in communication can impact a team's performance. People from a European background, for example, tend to speak directly and value frank conversation. By contrast, individuals who trace their roots to Asia or Latin America tend to be more indirect and to hide their emotions. It may be difficult for a team member of European origin to recognize when an Asian counterpart is unhappy or has identified a problem, and a Latino may find it difficult to deal with the brutal honesty that Americans of European descent highly value. On the other hand, people who prefer indirect communication treat others with respect and rarely will cause tension on the team.

Perception of Time

Americans of European descent value time and perceive punctuality as a sign of respect and reliability. Other cultures, however, have a very different concept of time. Africans, for example, do not embrace the linear concept of time. Their focus is on relationships and events. An activity takes whatever time is required. Deadlines are not a part of this concept. Similarly, Latinos view relationships as paramount and will not shortchange communication at an ongoing meeting to be on time for the next meeting. They perceive this as disrespectful. Thus, time expectations may present a challenge to a multicultural team. Cultural awareness and communication help to overcome these obstacles.

A Multi-faceted View of Issues

Due to their diverse cultural backgrounds, multicultural team members view problems from different perspectives. This provides the team with a broader toolkit for problem-solving. Diverse team members also bring a deeper understanding of their culture, which may enhance the company's ability to market to different ethnic audiences. They also may bring useful language skills to the table.

Management’s Role

Due to differing cultural perceptions and values, management must set clear expectations to ensure the team's effectiveness. For example, to address diverse concepts of time, managers must articulate deliverables and deadlines. At the same time, managers must allow extra time for team members to learn about each other and develop a bond. Acknowledging differences is the best way to deal with them, so managers should not sidestep diversity, but rather highlight the value they place on it. Finally, managers must closely monitor the team's performance and intervene if necessary in the event of tension or inappropriate behavior.

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