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CHAPTER 25

Conduct a Meeting of People from Different Cultures

by Rebecca Knight

When you’re running a meeting with participants from different cultures, consider your colleagues’ various needs and approaches. How do you brainstorm ideas, make decisions, and address conflict in a way that is comfortable for everyone? Which culture’s preferences should be the default? And how can you be sure that people who aren’t from the dominant culture participate and are heard?

What the Experts Say

Multicultural meetings can be challenging to lead. “People bring their cultural baggage with them wherever they go—and that includes the workplace,” says Jeanne M. Brett, professor of dispute resolution and negotiations at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School ...