Say It Skillfully® – Culture Clash, Toxic Workplace&Forgiveness - a podcast by Molly Tschang

Say It Skillfully® is a show that helps you to benefit from Molly Tschang’s expert guidance on the best possible ways to speak your mind at work in a positive and productive manner. Episode 169 features callers from around the world unpacking their challenging conversations with Molly. Her first caller, Griet, who works in Belgium, shares some of the not-so-subtle differences that she’s encountered with teams across cultures. She talks about nuances even across her small country and vastly different meanings of being “polite. They discuss how teams can proactively create transparency of “differences” and use these as a strength (and create happier work environments). Next, Maha is open about the struggles of her clients, who are not so familiar with American culture and business norms. Feeling misunderstood by co-workers can result in pain none of us would want. Having worked in the Middle East and Canada before the U.S., she’s empathetic about adjusting and finding ways to fit in. From the standpoint of the employee, boss and teammate, they highlight ways for all to be “part of the solution”, and how essential it is that we all take responsibility—to the benefit of individuals and organizations alike (20:35)! Then, Deanne recounts these past years with Covid and a poignant journey of supporting her mother with dementia in a nursing home through unbearably difficult times. She opens up about the depth of despair and not fully appreciating just how difficult the experience was on her—a far more negative impact than she realized at the time. With compassion, she shares her struggles and what it took to indeed forgive others and herself, and to heal (39:30). Finally, Molly responds to a request about how to talk to a manager about self-care boundaries and excessive travel for work that’s draining and unsustainable (52:25). Don’t miss these moving conversations—learn how to navigate work while being invaluable and true to yourself. Molly’s thought for the week: I am the me I choose to be. —Sidney Poitier

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