Acceptance does not mean adopting the behaviors or rituals of a culture as your own. It also does not mean condoning behaviors that clash with your value system.

Acceptance does mean respecting the values and behaviors of other cultures. Let’s say that we need to schedule team meetings and I feel that the best time to do this is before the day starts, at 8 a.m. every morning. However, Pam has a conflict: she attends worship every morning before work. Perhaps I don’t go to church every morning, but I can respect the fact that Pam has this commitment. Rather than ask Pam to alter her religious commitment, I can respect it and schedule the meeting for another time.

Developing acceptance can open up a whole new range of possibilities for everyone involved. To start, if you listen with an open mind, you’ll probably learn something about your co-worker or even about another culture. And, when different viewpoints are exchanged in a respectful manner, amazing ideas are bound to result. This respectful, healthy exchange builds respect and communication skills, resulting in a stronger team.