We belong to several cultures. The most obvious is the culture you share with all the people you live with in your own country. As a team, we belong to different ethnic groups with interesting cultural backgrounds, beliefs and traditions. .
Cultural differences sometimes affects communication; it shows in social values, ideas of status, decision making habits, manners, legal and ethical behavior. People from other cultures demonstrate their status differently in comparison to the average American. Differences in background can be a difficult in overcoming the communication barrier. When differences are identified within team members from different ethnic backgrounds, potential for misunderstanding is sometimes more likely to be dealt with. It is important to be aware of cultural differences, because we as people need to avoid negative, stereotypical labels by paying attention to people in general and the cultural differences amongst each other. People from different ethnic backgrounds often have different approaches to negotiation and that may vary in their tolerance for open disagreement. If one learns about the other team member's culture before starting to negotiate, that person may have some understanding of the other person's viewpoint.
Some members of the team may prefer a more sociable atmosphere. They are more comfortable negotiating over dinner and then maybe going out for drinks afterward, while others may wish to keep it professional. Differing perceptions of time is another factor that also may lead to misunderstanding. As a member of a working team everyone within that team should respect the others time only if time is managed according to team standards, which maybe discussed at the beginning of a teams meet. When it comes to time, some members may be limited and if kept waiting may feel angry and frustrated. They may try to get to the point quickly and use their time to plan efficiently, while others may be more relaxed, easy going and not in to much of a hurry.
