The job of an executive has become increasingly global. In today's environment, executives and career professionals are often in workplace settings that require interaction with groups of people from several different cultures. It can sometimes create uncertainty about how to interact and collaborate effectively in the workplace. Here are five tips to improve cross-cultural communication as a leader in your company and industry.

First, it’s helpful to define the word “culture.” Culture is a set of observable and describable actions and behavior within a group. Culture also describes behavior and traits at the individual level. Within a team or group, culture develops around how they act. When we observe people’s actions, we form ideas about their culture.

Cross-cultural means interactions and transactions between groups who exhibit different behaviors. To communicate across different groups, seek to understand more about other groups. When you know more about a group, you can speak more in accordance with their values in ways that translate clearly to them.

The first tip to improve cross-cultural communication is to connect to transcend our biases. Humans naturally make assumptions about others and why they do what they do. These are our biases. Biases cause people to look for what they can get from a transaction with another person. It can lead to getting around another person’s differences to achieve goals. That is called a transactional relationship. When the relationship is transactional, the connection with a person is just for that moment, and there is no authentic engagement. This mindset doesn’t allow for the development of empathy or aim for a relationship beyond the present moment.

Focus on how the other person’s differences can enhance your abilities together. Instead of focusing on questions like, “How will their differences stand in the way of me achieving my goals” or “How can I get this person to see my perspective?” consider adjusting the focus to the other person. This shift in focus will help you transcend any biases.

When you adopt this mindset, you might ask yourself: “How will I serve them to the highest values?” or “How can their abilities work toward our common mission?” Thinking of ways our differences can help us achieve joint goals is a much more productive path than interacting transactionally. This mindset of serving others can also help you be the best version of yourself.

The second strategy is to develop greater precision when you communicate. Accuracy in communication happens in two ways: body language and spoken words. When speaking across different cultures, there will be extra emphasis on words and gestures that are unique to a group. Some cultures use patterns of speech when a person wants to relay a formal communication style.

Others may use appropriate gestures in their culture, but it is considered offensive in another culture. For example, in American culture, a hug is often customary in informal or social situations. Other cultures, however, see physical touch as offensive. These spoken and unspoken differences can lead to miscommunication. To lessen the chances for miscommunication, seek ways to be precise with what you say and how you communicate with your body. Be mindful of your actions so that others might not misinterpret them.

The third strategy is to develop “others awareness.” Rather than self-awareness, it is helpful to direct our awareness toward other people. We can practice “others awareness” by seeking to understand people as individuals rather than assuming they match stereotypes of their culture based on media portrayals. Making assumptions about how other people might behave because of their culture means we may be closed off from understanding who a person is. Instead, be curious about different cultures and be willing to listen to others with an open mind.

If you want to know about someone, take the time to research their culture. Be open to learning what the differences are in the way their culture communicates and what their values are. When developing “others awareness,” we can make decisions cross-culturally, using our differences as a strength.

The fourth strategy is to aim for what is meaningful. You uncover real meaning by extracting what is significant from a conversation. You will develop a greater appreciation for pairs of opposites as a result. Relationships present opportunities for both challenge and support, both rejection and acceptance. Recognize conflicts as a chance to attain higher levels of understanding.

Cross-cultural relationships can be complex, but it is not an obstacle. It is a chance to embrace the challenge. In embracing challenges, you transcend to greater levels of empathy and appreciation for who another person is. Ultimately, every individual you interact with will help refine your craft. So aim to find the true meaning when interacting with people from other cultures.

The fifth way to improve cross-cultural communication is to be open-minded. When it comes to cultural behaviors, there is no right or wrong. The “right or wrong” concept comes from our labeling and can lead to relationship difficulties and conflicts. Being open-minded about cultural differences will allow you to embrace the intersection of right and wrong instead of judging.

Practice being open-minded. Learn to withhold making a judgment and instead be able to be open as you learn about another individual and their values and beliefs.

The third strategy is to develop “others awareness.” Rather than self-awareness, it is helpful to direct our awareness toward other people. We can practice “others awareness” by seeking to understand people as individuals rather than assuming they match stereotypes of their culture based on media portrayals. Making assumptions about how other people might behave because of their culture means we may be closed off from understanding who a person is. Instead, be curious about different cultures and be willing to listen to others with an open mind.

If you want to know about someone, take the time to research their culture. Be open to learning what the differences are in the way their culture communicates and what their values are. When developing “others awareness,” we can make decisions cross-culturally, using our differences as a strength.