Do you see yourself as a culturally proficient leader?

CW3 Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 16 Jul 2015 17:08:02 -0400

Cultural proficiency is a mind-set, a worldview, a way a person or an organization makes assumptions for effectively describing responding to, and planning for issues that arise in diverse environments. For some people cultural proficiency is a paradigm shift from viewing cultural difference as problematic to learning how to interact effectively with other cultures.

Culturally proficient leaders display personal values and behaviors that enable them and others to engage in effective interactions among students, educators, and the communities they serve.

Do you see yourself as a culturally proficient leader? Why or why not?

What do you see as the major barriers to leaders around you being culturally proficient?

What can be done to increase the level of cultural proficiency across the armed services?

Response by PO1 John Miller made Jul 16 at 2015 5:20 PM

PO1 John Miller — Thu, 16 Jul 2015 17:20:17 -0400

Great question. I saw myself as a culturally proficient leader while in the military. Because the military is so diverse ethnically and culturally, I had no choice but to be if I wanted to continue to serve!

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 16 at 2015 5:34 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 16 Jul 2015 17:34:23 -0400

Yes

Response by MSG(P) Rafael Aguilera made Jul 16 at 2015 5:43 PM

MSG(P) Rafael Aguilera — Thu, 16 Jul 2015 17:43:37 -0400

Yes; in today's military it is a must for several reasons:
1 - Service members come from ALL walks of life to include other countries.
2 - The contemporary operational environment is all around the world; when boots are on ground you better be savvy with local customs and courtesies.
3 - The younger generation of service members is a complete different culture on their own.
4 - Joint Service operations require cultural awareness to the various branches.
- HOLD THE LINE!

Response by LTC John Shaw made Jul 16 at 2015 5:49 PM

LTC John Shaw — Thu, 16 Jul 2015 17:49:10 -0400

CW3 Private RallyPoint Member I try really hard. I have a multi-cultural diverse team. I have been in multiple international environments with team members of all different nationalities.
I can do better:
1) I should have picked up a language along the way. I tend to learn just enough to function.
2) Try to spend some personal time learning with and about our peer team members.
3) Understand their beliefs and values and reflect on the positive aspects, genuinely appreciate them
4) Encourage participation and involvement in multinational environments and exercises
5) Highlight what our multinational peers do right publicly and seek recognition for their efforts.

Response by Capt Michael Halpin made Jul 16 at 2015 6:35 PM

Capt Michael Halpin — Thu, 16 Jul 2015 18:35:07 -0400

Serving in the Marines was my first opportunity to met all kinds of people from many diverse backgrounds from across the country. We were all different when we started but all Marines in the end. Black, white, Asian, big city guys, small town guys, farmers and surfers. We were told that their are no white Marines, there are no black Marines, there are only green Marines; some may be light green and some may be dark Marines, but all are Marines. The military is a melting pot, teaching each to live and work with a diverse group of people. I suspect all come out of it with an appreciation for it.

Response by SSgt Alex Robinson made Jul 16 at 2015 7:38 PM

SSgt Alex Robinson — Thu, 16 Jul 2015 19:38:29 -0400

To me the best way to interact is to show respect and treat others with dignity. Follow the golden rule and you can't go wrong.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 16 at 2015 8:28 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 16 Jul 2015 20:28:17 -0400

I do consider myself a proficient leader. In my church, I'm a leader within the Ushers at our scheduled time to participate. I wasn't asked to do it, but on some days the person responsible wasn't there. Men who have been ushers for years acted like they didn't know what to do. I'm the President of our SS class and have been for several years. Nobody else wanted the job, so I took it. I lead our class into being involved. I'm not bragging or thumping my own pumpkin, but it seems it's always been that way. Even at the reception station in Houston, where I got sworn in, I was given the paperwork to turn in to the CO at Ft. Polk. I was made a squad leader there and at Ft. Gordon. I can't stand to sit by and let others decide on what we're going to do, or where we are going. I don't know if they are leadership standards. I just do it.

Response by COL Charles Williams made Jul 17 at 2015 12:02 AM

COL Charles Williams — Fri, 17 Jul 2015 00:02:16 -0400

CW3 Private RallyPoint Member I think I am above average... but I always have room to learn.

Response by COL Ted Mc made Jul 17 at 2015 2:37 AM

COL Ted Mc — Fri, 17 Jul 2015 02:37:42 -0400

CW3 Private RallyPoint Member - Chief Warrant; I do not consider myself "culturally proficient", but only a student of the art.

One thing I noticed in the thread was how people considered that "cultural proficiency" entailed being "open to" the various threads that make up "Army Culture" or that make up "American Culture".

Unfortunately, out in the real world, that doesn't even come close to "Cultural Proficiency" because there are cultures out there where the basic postulates of their society are completely different from those of either "Army Culture" or "American Culture" - AND some of those cultures aren't exactly well disposed towards the United States of America [and I specifically do not deal with whether that ill disposition has a valid factual basis or not].

"They're just weird." may be true, but doesn't help you either anticipate or deal with a mind-set that you have never actually tried to understand or a "logic" that you have never actually tried to employ.

NOT having the faintest clue what "the other guy" is going to do in a given situation is a sure-fire recipe for being surprised (especially when "the other guy" does stuff that YOU would never even think of doing). On the other hand, if you do know what "the other guy" is likely to do in a given situation then you can do something that "the other guy" JUST KNOWS that YOU would never do and surprise the hell out of them.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Oct 23 at 2015 4:45 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Fri, 23 Oct 2015 16:45:34 -0400

I know enough to know I don't know enough about regions and countries.