Introduce yourself
It is important to be able to communicate effectively and understand people from different cultural backgrounds. Urban neighborhoods with increasing diversity can cause conflicts, misunderstandings and distrust. For healthcare professionals, educators and individuals it is essential to have culturally competent in order navigate different communities. This paper discusses how important cultural competencies are, as well as the skills needed to achieve them. It also offers a plan to help develop cultural proficiency in a neighborhood that is experiencing increasing conflict because of the diversity.
Culture and Competence: Importance
It is important that individuals and organisations have the cultural competence to deliver effective services and provide equal opportunities to people and groups of diverse backgrounds. Healthcare professionals need to be culturally competent in order to meet and understand the needs of different patient groups. Cultural competence in education is crucial for teachers to promote a learning environment which encourages success academically for all students. Cultural competence in the workplace is essential for employees who want to effectively work with customers and colleagues from different cultural backgrounds.
Critical thinking and decision making skills
To develop cultural competency, you need to have critical thinking skills and the ability to make decisions that encourage understanding and respect of diverse cultures. The skills that are required include:
- Self-awareness – Developing cultural competencies begins with an awareness of one’s own culture. To develop a greater appreciation of other cultures, individuals must be aware of their cultural biases and assumptions.
- Listening actively is essential for cultural competency. Respect and understanding are promoted by listening to people from different cultural backgrounds without judgement and with an open-minded mind.
- Empathy is a way to share and understand the emotions of another person. Empathy helps to promote cultural competence through fostering understanding and respect.
- Flexible: The ability to adjust to new situations and viewpoints. By allowing individuals to adapt to different cultural perspectives and situations, flexibility promotes cultural competency.
- The development of cultural competency is dependent on the ability to solve problems. Individuals who are able to solve problems can effectively address conflicts and misunderstandings in cultures.
Develop a Personal Cultural Competence Plan
The following plan is a personal approach to developing cultural competency in a neighborhood that has experienced conflict because of increasing diversity due to urbanization:
- Self-assessment. Conduct an evaluation of yourself to identify your cultural assumptions and biases. Self-awareness is a key to understanding other cultures and promoting respect.
- Do research to find out the background of residents from the neighborhood. The research helps to understand the diversity of cultures in the area.
- Active Listening: Take part in active listening when you are around people of different cultures. Listen to others with an open and non-judgmental mind. This will promote respect and understanding.
- Take part in local cultural events or festivals. Understanding and respecting diverse cultures is promoted through cultural immersion.
- Work with local individuals and groups to improve cultural competency. Collaboration: Working together can promote understanding and respect of diverse cultural perspectives.
- Take part in training and education programs on cultural competence. Develop critical thinking skills and make decisions by promoting education and training.
The conclusion of the article is:
It is important for organizations and individuals to develop cultural competency in order to effectively navigate through diverse cultures. The development of critical thinking skills and decision making abilities, such as self-awareness and active listening, along with empathy, flexibility and problem solving, can help to promote respect and understanding for different cultural perspectives. Self-assessment and research are required to develop a plan that will help you build cultural competency in a neighborhood where there is conflict because of increasing diversity. Active listening, immersion into culture, education, and training can also be helpful. Individuals can contribute to a more inclusive and culturally sensitive community by developing a plan that promotes understanding of diverse perspectives.
Referrals
Beachum, F. D., & McCray, A. D. (2020).