What Works Across Cultures

What happens when a joke brings people together and when it doesn’t?

Humour can break the ice, ease tension, help us cope with difficult experiences and even challenge those in power. But what feels funny, appropriate or even offensive is deeply shaped by context, culture, relationships and power.

In this episode, Anna Kostecka talks to Larry Olomofe, a Senior Management Consultant and Educator and former diplomat, with more than 25 years of experience working in human rights, training and coaching across business, civil society and public administration.

Drawing on Larry’s experience across the African diaspora and in Africa, Europe, and North America, they explore what humour can reveal about how we relate to one another and what global leaders need to keep in mind when using humour across cultures. 

In this episode, you’ll discover:

• How humour can build trust, ease tension and help us navigate difficult situations
• How humour can create connection but also exclusion
• Why people use humour to cope with adversity and difficult realities
• How humour can challenge power and expose absurdity
• The four styles of humour described by psychologist Rod Martin, and what they can tell us about how we relate to others
• Why humour doesn’t always travel well across cultures
• How, in multicultural teams, trust matters not only for making jokes but also for repairing things when a joke doesn’t land

Enjoying the podcast? Follow the show, share this episode with someone who works in a global team or support the podcast by buying us a coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/whatworksacrosscultures

If this topic resonates with you, it’s the kind of work we do with leaders and teams. Get in touch: https://whatworks.pl/#connect

Podcast jingle 106 by ⁠Lundstroem⁠ is licensed under an ⁠Attribution 4.0 International License⁠.

What does it mean to be a good leader?

A leader who gives clear direction, takes responsibility and protects their team may be seen as strong and caring in China. But in the Netherlands or the US, the same behaviour might be seen as micromanagement. So what happens when people with very different ideas about leadership end up working together?

In this episode, Anna Kostecka talks to Benita Bi, an L&D strategist and consultant with over 25 years of experience in talent and leadership development across China, the US and Europe.

Together, they explore how culture shapes what we expect from leaders and why behaviours that make perfect sense in one culture can be confusing or even counterproductive in another.

In this episode,  you'll discover:

• What effective leadership has in common across cultures and where expectations differ

• The idea of leadership in China as power with responsibility

• Why “ownership” and “taking initiative” can mean very different things in China, the Netherlands and the US

• Why Chinese team members may not raise a problem straight away and why this isn't necessarily about a lack of transparency

• What can happen when a global leader and a Chinese team have completely different ideas about who should solve a problem

• Why a Chinese leader who is seen as caring and supportive by their team may be perceived as a micromanager in the Netherlands

• The role of guanxi, trust and personal relationships in getting things done in China

• Practical strategies for leading more effectively across cultures

If you work with or lead global teams, this episode is an invitation to explore the cultural logic behind what you see before jumping to judgment.

Want to explore further? Find additional materials from this episode: https://whatworks.pl/podcast-episode-8/

Enjoying the podcast? Follow the show, share this episode with someone who works in a global team or support the podcast by buying us a coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/whatworksacrosscultures

If this topic resonates with you, it’s the kind of work we do with leaders and teams. Get in touch: https://whatworks.pl/#connect

Podcast jingle 106 by ⁠Lundstroem⁠ is licensed under an ⁠Attribution 4.0 International License⁠.

What does it mean to be hardworking? While staying late at work can signal commitment in some countries, in Denmark, it can have the opposite effect. Being hardworking there means delivering efficiently within the agreed hours. Why? 

In this episode, Anna Kostecka speaks with Ekaterina von Gertten, who has been leading the global Diversity, Equity & Inclusion agenda at GN Group in Denmark. Drawing on years of experience helping Fortune 100 companies address the cultural challenges of global business, Ekaterina shares how Danish culture approaches work, commitment, and relationship building.  

Together, they explore how culture influences our understanding and expectations of work-life balance or sustainable work and explain why global teams often misunderstand one another. 

In this episode, you'll discover:

• How "being hardworking" means very different things across cultures

• How Danish values shape expectations around availability, flexibility, and work-life balance

• Real-life examples of common tensions around work-life balance in global teams

• Why conflicts about work-life balance are often really conflicts about fairness, loyalty, and respect

• Danish and Scandinavian rituals for building friendships and relationships at work

• Practical ways leaders and organizations can manage tensions around work-life balance in the global teams

If you work with or lead global teams, this conversation will help you better understand the invisible assumptions and realities that shape how people work — and why the same behaviour can be interpreted in completely different ways. 

Enjoying the podcast? Subscribe, share the episode with someone who works internationally, or buy us a coffee to support the show.

If this topic resonates with you, it's exactly the kind of work we do with leaders and teams. Get in touch to learn more.

Podcast jingle 106 by ⁠Lundstroem⁠ is licensed under a ⁠Attribution 4.0 International License⁠.

What can one of the world's most successful game studios teach us about creativity, culture, and collaboration? Why do Polish teams often focus on what can be improved rather than what's already working? 

In this episode, Anna Kostecka speaks with Paweł Karpiuk, Senior Training & Development Specialist at CD Projekt Red, the Polish video game company behind The Witcher series and Cyberpunk 2077. 

Together, they explore how culture shapes creativity, why Polish teams approach problem-solving differently, and what global organizations can learn from working across cultures. 

In this conversation, you'll discover:

• What creativity really means beyond art and creative industries
• How Polish cultural values show up in game narratives, storytelling, and teamwork
• Why psychological safety, trust, and communication are essential for creativity
• The idea of "creative tension" and what makes Polish creativity distinctive
• Why Polish teams are often perceived as critical when they are actually highly engaged
• What international colleagues often misunderstand about working with Poles
• Practical ways to encourage creativity and collaboration in multicultural teams

Want to know more? Review the additional materials from this episode: https://whatworks.pl/podcast-episode-6/

Enjoying the podcast? Subscribe, share the episode with someone who works internationally, or buy us a coffee to support the show.

If this topic resonates with you, it's exactly the kind of work we do with leaders and teams. Get in touch to learn more.

Podcast jingle 106 by ⁠Lundstroem⁠ is licensed under a ⁠Attribution 4.0 International License⁠.

What does “community” really mean? And what happens to communities in times of crisis? 

In this episode, host Anna Kostecka speaks with Maria Andruchiw, a Ukrainian community organizer, activist, and cultural advocate based in Poland. With over 10 years of experience in cultural diplomacy and community organizing, Maria brings both expertise and lived experience to the conversation.

Together, they explore how culture shapes the way we understand, build, and rebuild communities. 

Anna and Maria explore:

• How culture influences our understanding of community: is it something we choose or something we are born into? 

• How communities respond when a crisis hits, and what holds them together 

• Surprising cultural differences between Poland and Ukraine — two neighbouring countries often assumed to be alike

• Practical ways to collaborate across cultures, especially with colleagues from Ukraine

Enjoying the podcast? Subscribe, share it with others, or buy us a coffee to support the show.

If this topic resonates with you, this is exactly what we work on with leaders and their teams. Get in touch

#Community #Ukraine #Poland #CrossCultural #InterculturalCommunication #GlobalTeams #InclusiveLeadership #WorkplaceCulture #GlobalLeadership #Collaboration #InterculturalCompetence

Podcast jingle 106 by ⁠Lundstroem⁠ is licensed under a ⁠Attribution 4.0 International License⁠.

Is building psychological safety the same everywhere? How can cultural differences impact speaking up during meetings? What are other important indicators of psychological safety? What can you do when you don’t hear much from colleagues in Japan or across APAC? 

In this episode, host Anna Kostecka speaks with Keiko Sakurai, Director of Consulting at Aperian, based in Japan. Keiko has over 20 years of experience supporting collaboration across European, North American, and Asia-Pacific (APAC) teams.

Together, they explore the importance of culture in building psychological safety and what leaders and team members can do to foster it. 

• What psychological safety really means and its stages

• How cultural differences shape speaking up

• The 5 dimensions of culture (GlobeSmart®Profile) and their impact

• Practical ways to encourage sharing ideas and challenges in a global team

🎁 Review the bonus materials from this episode, including an exclusive discount code to get 15% off an Aperian platform subscriptions:  https://whatworks.pl/podcast-episode-4/

Enjoying the podcast? Subscribe, share it with others, or buy us a coffee to support the show.

If this topic resonates with you, this is exactly what we work on with leaders and their teams. Get in touch

#PsychologicalSafety #GlobalLeadership #CrossCultural #InterculturalCommunication #GlobalTeams #APAC #Japan #LeadershipDevelopment #CulturalDifferences #InterculturalCompetence #Cross-culturalCollaboration

Podcast jingle 106 by ⁠Lundstroem⁠ is licensed under a ⁠Attribution 4.0 International License⁠.

Conflict happens in every team. But in global and multicultural teams, misunderstandings often arise because culture shapes how we disagree, express emotions, and resolve conflicts. When we misinterpret the behaviour of colleagues from other cultures, trust can quickly erode.

In this episode, host Anna Kostecka speaks with Hamlin Grange, a Canadian interculturalist and IDEA strategist (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Anti-Racism) with over 26 years of experience.

Together, they explore how culture influences conflict in the workplace and how leaders and teams can navigate disagreements more effectively.

• Different conflict styles: direct vs. indirect communication and expressive vs. restrained emotional approaches

• How culture shapes the way people approach conflict at work

• The Canadian perspective on addressing disagreements

• Real-life examples of conflict dynamics in multicultural teams

• Practical tips for navigating conflict across cultures

🎁 Download and review the additional materials from this episode: https://whatworks.pl/podcast-episode-3/ 

Enjoying the podcast? Subscribe, share it with others, or buy us a coffee to support the show.

If this topic resonates with you, this is exactly what we work on with leaders and their teams. Get in touch

#ConflictStyles #GlobalLeadership #GlobalTeams #InterculturalCompetence #CrossCulturalCommunication #CulturalIntelligence #CrossCulturalLeadership #GlobalWorkplace #InterculturalCommunication #LeadershipAcrossCultures #CrossCulturalCollaborationPodcast jingle 106 by ⁠Lundstroem⁠ is licensed under a ⁠Attribution 4.0 International License⁠.

What makes a good communicator? What do people tend to get wrong about communicating with colleagues from the United States?

Join our host, Anna Kostecka, for a conversation with Karen Cvitkovich, a U.S. consultant, author, and facilitator with almost 20 years of experience in the intercultural field.

In this episode, Anna and Karen discuss:

• What “good communication” really means across cultures
• The difference between low-context and high-context cultures
• How direct vs. indirect communication styles often cause misunderstandings
• Giving effective feedback across cultures
• Practical tips to help you communicate when working globally, especially when collaborating with U.S. team members

Who is it for? Leaders and team members collaborating in global teams, HR and L&D professionals, and curious minds, wondering what works across cultures and why.

Enjoying the podcast? Subscribe, share it with others, or buy us a coffee to support the show.

If this topic resonates with you, this is exactly what we work on with leaders and their teams. Get in touch.

#InterculturalCommunication #CommunicationStyles, #HighContextCultures, #LowContextCultures, #DirectCommunication, #IndirectCommunication, #Feedback #Cross-culturalCollaboration #GlobalTeams #WorkingWithUSTeams #WorkingWithPolishTeams #WhatWorksAcrossCultures #CulturalDimensions #Cultural Awareness

Podcast jingle 106 by ⁠Lundstroem⁠ is licensed under a ⁠Attribution 4.0 International License⁠.

Trust is the universal currency of collaboration, but how we build it differs across cultures. What makes us trust others? 

Join our host, Anna Kostecka, for a conversation with Sudeep Chhabra, a leadership development expert with over 26 years of experience based in New Delhi. 

In this episode, Anna and Sudeep discuss: 

• The Trust Equation
• Cultural differences related to trust-building 
• Practical things that help you build trust when working with team members from India

Who is it for? Leaders and team members collaborating in global teams, HR and L&D professionals, and curious minds, wondering what works across cultures and why.

Enjoying the podcast? Subscribe, share it with others, or buy us a coffee to support the show.

Need help with cross-cultural teamwork? Get in touch

#BuildingTrustAtWork #Cross-culturalCollaboration #GlobalTeams #InterculturalCommunication #WorkingWithIndianTeams

Podcast jingle 106 by Lundstroem is licensed under a Attribution 4.0 International License.