Sitting down at a restaurant recently, we ordered a side of pumpkin to go with the main meal. The pumpkin arrived and it wasn’t cooked properly. It was still hard and impossible to eat. As this was one evening during a work trip, I was curious on how others normally handle this situation.

Put simply, I see the options as:
1. Do you send it back straight away?
2. Leave it until the end and let the wait staff know it wasn’t well cooked or;
3. Do you say nothing, and even compliment the meal, and still say nothing.
What do you do after you leave the restaurant?
Do you tell others?

This reminds me of how different people contribute in meetings. There will be some who speak up straight away giving the group the ability to listen and discuss. There will be some who wait until the end as they prefer a bit more of a back seat and there are others who say nothing and then talk about what they really think to others outside the meeting.

Often what people do is heavily influenced by cultural norms both organisationally and personally. Here are my thoughts on how you can respect cultural norms and encourage open communication and feedback:

✔ Be mindful of cultural differences. Adapt your approach and acknowledge these different approaches ✔ Foster a culture of trust where team members feel safe expressing their opinions without judgement or retribution ✔ Encourage participation. Facilitate meetings and actively ensure everyone can share their thoughts and not just the louder team members.

✔ Provide multiple ways to give feedback such as verbally during the meeting, anonymous surveys, or one-on-one follow ups

Understanding cultural norms and adjusting to these can provide an environment where feedback and discussions are productive and cohesive. This can make a difference in how a team performs.

How would you react to the pumpkin scenario?