midweek Connect: 7/20/22 ~ Crosscultural “Fixers”
I came across an intriguing take on cross-cultural dynamics this morning which I’d like to explore with you all today. It comes to us from the front lines in Ukraine - where war continues to be waged and one group of uniquely engaged workers do their part to serve the Cause. This focus fits neatly into the collaborative strategy of Global SKILLs PROACTive training *.
(meet the group: https://www.cnn.com/2022/07/20/opinions/ukraine-fixer-war-foreign-journalists-dovzhyk/index.html).
The workers call themselves “fixers” and although they come from all walks of life, their fixer role places them squarely in the domain of cross-cultural communicators & community builders. Their labor, often at high risk to their own personal safety, happens in regions devastated by natural crises and armed conflict zones. About the time the media arrives, the fixers show up to work their magic. At home in the local culture and as native speakers, they collaborate (translate, interpret, connect with local networks, smooth over inappropriate questions or interactions, etc etc) to ‘get the story out’ to the rest of the world. Of equal importance, they actively help preserve the dignity, well-being and cultural integrity of the people who are being interviewed.
Does this sound familiar?! It’s what in fact every cross-cultural worker does (or should be doing!) - adding all the essential ingredients of constructive cultural interaction and building bridges of understanding and mutual beneficiality. In the fixers case, they are cultural gate-keepers, collaborating side by side with foreign reporters who are unable to speak the language and often oblivious to cultural necessities. The wide ranging results, or shall I say “Fixes” (!), truly inspire me…
How about you ~ what is one way you have taken on a cross-cultural fixer role recently?
Share about that with a friend or note it here.
And check out the Global SKILLs LINKs below for other ‘fixer’ insights.
Thanks for being part of this Connect community.
Until next week,
Betsy
Global SKILLs LINKs
~ another totally inspiring twist to cultural fixing…supporting local efforts from a world away with shared understanding and expertise: https://youtu.be/mpp0-JUF45Q
~ a business ‘take’ on cultural ‘fixing’ - imagine how the content this Academy offers could inform your work: https://www.theculturefix.academy/
(disclaimer - I do not endorse or encourage anyone to actually sign up for this Academy!)
Notes:
* Global SKILLs PROACTive Learning Strategies: PRO = PROfile, PROcess, PROgram
ACT = Application, Collaboration (which we explored today) and Transformation ~ contact me for more information on these strategies and how you might use them in your current programming
2022 ~ Celebrating 40+ years of working in
intercultural communications and global community building
“It takes a community to build a community”
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Please do not reproduce or share without my permission (betsy.barbour@gmail.com)