Human Factors Across Cultures

When people talk of cultural differences, they take the time to find and highlight the many ways people are different. Peoples thinking, values and behaviours are shaped throughout their life by multiple factors - family, friends, work colleagues, interests and religious practises as obvious examples.

Those of us who have had the privilege to live and work around the world and in ‘different cultures’ need to find a way to happily co-exist and thrive in foreign environments presenting in many forms, language barriers, cultural norms, habits and routines. To be successful in these environments it takes a respectful inquisitive mind and a willingness to learn and to find the common ground, a willingness to ‘be curious’ like Ted Lasso said. How are we alike, what are our common drivers, likes and practises.

When the focus shifts to what we have in common, a new world of cultural similarities emerges. Across all cultures, there are the common bonds that bind, love of family, respect for elders and the law, or children’s well-being and education. Dig a little further and more commonalities appear, the love of sport and our favourite team, our hobbies, likes and dislikes in food and respect of cultural or religious observances.

Having spent many years with my family working, growing and learning in Saudi Arabia, it was the common things that we found that made our life happy and fulfilled and we now see a world of cultural similarities that bind and help make people happy and successful. Identify the human factors and traits that bind and you too will enjoy the ‘cultural similarities’ when next you travel.