Curious About Culture

Book excerpt: Whether you are on a journey of self-reflection or wish to influence others, this definitive guide to cross-cultural engagement will help you to understand your own cultural narrative and better connect with people of other cultural backgrounds.Curious about Culture by Gaiti Rabbani invites readers on a journey of introspection to discover the multitude of cultural influences that shape their view of the world.Culture is not geographically bound. It is about more than just where you were born and where you live. Gender, generation and language, among other factors, all contribute to your cultural lens and how well you can connect with others.Improving cross-cultural engagement starts with understanding yourself. You will uncover your own cultural drivers that will help you cultivate meaningful cross-cultural conversations. We all have multiple facets to our identities and some of them are likely to be stigmatised. The author encourages readers to be curious and dive beyond the apparent cues when engaging across cultures, highlighting the pitfalls of drawing upon assumptions and defaulting to stereotypes.Anecdotes from the leading cultural intelligence specialist, Gaiti Rabbani's rich personal and professional experiences along with research-based insights, create a relatable, insightful and thought-provoking read. Whether you are on a journey of self-reflection or wish to influence others, this book will help you to understand your own cultural narrative and better connect with people of other cultural backgrounds.Curious about Culture is a practical reference for the enterprising and curious professional.