Managing a creative team is an art in itself, and when that team spans across borders and cultures, the challenge becomes even more exhilarating. In today’s interconnected world, the opportunity to lead a multinational creative team brings both unique rewards and complexities. It is blessing that I have stepped into the cross-culture management world by having members from Vietnam, Poland and India.
The Thrill of Diversity
One of the most exciting aspects of managing a multinational creative team is the inherent diversity within the group. Each team member brings a unique set of experiences, perspectives, and cultural nuances, enriching the collective creativity. Boys and girls, single and married, introvert and extrovert, … everything creates a dynamic energy. If there is one thing in common, it surely is the motivation of having fun at work – we are not afraid of being ourselves.
Embracing Cultural Differences
Understanding and respecting cultural nuances becomes crucial in fostering collaboration and effective communication. We always look for a chance to celebrate different traditions and customs, adding depth and richness to the creative output. It’s amazing to explore world through the team members and understand their belief. We often share beautiful scenery from each countries, just to wow the others (and make them jealous ^__^).
Overcoming Language Barriers
Communication is the lifeblood of any team, and language barriers can present a significant challenge. I’m grateful that each one in the team understand that English is not our first language so we appreciate different accents. Most of the time, the Vietnameses seem to speak slowly while Indian is a bit fast, and the Polish is still thinking 😀 We are getting familiar to each other day by day. At first, it’s very hard for the Vietnam team to follow the new Indian member, but now we are getting better, how blessing.
Time Zone Tetris
One of the most practical challenges of managing a multinational creative team is coordinating across different time zones. Scheduling meetings, tracking progress, and ensuring smooth workflow become a strategic juggling act. This is how I organize meetings for people from different countries. I customized my calendar so that it shows 4 timezones in parallel and avoid booking a meeting when someone is out of work.
Overall, managing a multinational creative team is truly an adventure . It requires adaptability, cultural sensitivity, effective communication, a passion for fostering collaboration, patience and empathy. It’s never easy at the beginning for me but I’m so happy to see the improvement in myself everyday. Managing is also learning from the team members at the same time.
