Whether working remotely across borders or in increasingly diverse organisations, professionals today are interacting with colleagues whose cultural backgrounds, communication styles and workplace expectations may differ significantly from their own.

While these differences can enrich organisations, they can also lead to misunderstanding if they are not recognised and appreciated. As businesses become more interconnected across Africa and beyond, cultural awareness is no longer simply a desirable trait, it is becoming a critical workplace competency.

We explored how individuals and organisations can better navigate cross-cultural workplaces with Emmanuel Michael, Director of Human Resources at Eko Hotels & Suites and Founder & Lead Coach at  HRwithEM.