Scott Hoots, CEO of QC Kinetix, a leader in the regenerative medicine industry, emphasizes the importance of cultural competency in effective leadership. He believes that understanding, respecting, and leveraging the cultural differences of your team members goes beyond diversity and inclusion programs. By recognizing and embracing the context of your employees, leaders can instill confidence, leading to better engagement and collaboration.
Hoots shares his experience as the Director of Franchising for Ripley’s Believe it or Not!, where he worked with franchise owners in countries like Korea, Australia, the U.K., and Thailand. He learned the importance of recognizing and embracing cultural differences to build relationships with people from diverse backgrounds. By being aware of customs, traditions, and beliefs of different cultures, leaders can adapt their behavior to show respect and understanding.
Training your team on cultural competency is essential in developing high-performing employees. This could include self-awareness exercises to recognize biases and improve understanding of others, communication strategies to encourage open and honest dialogue about differences, and fostering a culture of respect and empathy. By promoting self-discovery and learning from mistakes, teams can build trust, improve collaboration, and achieve better results.
Hoots emphasizes that cultural competency is a continual process with no endpoint. By being curious, open-minded, and willing to learn from others, leaders can create a welcoming environment that promotes trust and collaboration. Building understanding and relationships with diverse team members leads to improved interactions, satisfaction, and productivity. Cultural competency is essential for effective leadership and building successful teams in any organization.
The Forbes Business Council highlights the importance of cultural competency in leadership development. The organization provides a platform for business owners and leaders to network, grow, and exchange insights on best practices in various industries. By promoting awareness, education, and understanding of cultural differences, leaders can create inclusive and diverse workplaces that foster respect, collaboration, and success. Effective leadership requires a deep understanding of people’s narratives and perspectives, leading to better relationship-building and team performance.
