In today's interconnected world, working in global teams, whether virtually or in person, is becoming the norm for many. As borders blur and teams diversify, one skill emerges as crucial for success: perspective-taking.

At its core, perspective-taking is an active, cognitive process of understanding another's viewpoint, be it cultural, emotional, or intellectual. With perspective-taking, you are willing to see the world through another person’s eyes -- even if you don’t fully understand what they are seeing (or even agree).

Perspective-taking is one of the six key cross-cultural competencies of culturally agile professionals for the following reasons:

1. Enhances Communication: In a cross-cultural context, perspective-taking helps us navigate language barriers and understand non-verbal cues and communication styles that vary dramatically across cultures.

2. Fosters Inclusion: Perspective-taking allows us to appreciate and leverage the diverse backgrounds and experiences of our team members.

3. Boosts Collaboration: Understanding where your colleagues are coming from paves the way for more effective and harmonious collaboration. It helps in anticipating potential misunderstandings and proactively addressing them.

4. Drives Innovation: Diverse perspectives are a goldmine for innovation. By understanding and combining different viewpoints, global teams can innovate more effectively, leading to breakthrough ideas and solutions.

5. Builds Strong Relationships: By showing an interest and understanding of others' perspectives, we build trust and strong, lasting relationships, which are key to successful team dynamics.

As we continue to navigate the complexities of a globalized world, let's use cultural agility by embracing perspective-taking as a critical competency to unlocking the full potential of our diverse teams.

Check out this reel for tips on how to develop perspective-taking. Also visit myGiide.com for a free self-assessment and development tips.