Transcript of Money &Cross-Cultural Partnerships --------- A Workshop For The Global Missions Health Conference...
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- Money &Cross-Cultural Partnerships --------- A Workshop For
The Global Missions Health Conference Designed & Facilitated by
Mary Lederleitner
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- Who Is This Person? I Work In A Few Different Worlds The
Wycliffe Global Alliance The Billy Graham Center at Wheaton College
The Institute for Cross- Cultural Training Advisory Board for EMQ
PhD Studies at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School
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- During My Time With Wycliffe Asia Area Finance Coordinator
Working with country directors, indigenous partners and funders.
Head of Intl Audit Research Role Cross-Cultural Consultant
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- Why I Wrote The book To reduce conflict in global partnerships
To foster cultural understanding To encourage greater dialogue To
equip lay people, mission pastors, mission practitioners,
administrators, and foundation leaders
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- Critical Question Why is it important to partner well in your
context?
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- Partnering Well Is Not Easy Collaboration often increases the
amount of conflict. Article from the Harvard Business Review; March
2005, p. 93 Money is often at the center of the worst
conflicts.
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- Culture Is Often Pulling Our Strings
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- There Is No One Size Fits All Partnering well with people from
other cultures is incredibly complex. Someone preaching easy
answers does not understand. Each partnership is a unique puzzle.
Neo-colonialism is easy; partnership is not.
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- We Are In Dire Need Of Cultural Intelligence Cultural
intelligence is a blend of interpersonal skills and cultural
awareness. It is more than dumping cognitive information into the
brain to achieve competency.
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- What Is Cultural Intelligence? It is having our behavior and
instincts honed, over time and through practice, so we are a
blessing and not a hindrance to Gods missional purposes in the
world.
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- The Goal For Our Time Together
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- The Spectrum: Varying Degrees Of Individualism &
Collectivism Whenever there is a difference there is potential for
hurt feelings. There are country ratings but each person is a bit
different.
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- Working Through Differences Not understanding and truly
respecting the difference between individualistic and collective
world views is the reason many cross-cultural initiatives
fail.
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- Working Through Differences People assume that behaviors mean
the same things across cultures. They assign meaning and motives to
behaviors as defined by their own cultural context.
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- Working Through Differences When money is involved this is
especially common. Until we can step back and see things from a
different and broader perspective, and feel our partners tensions,
it is often hard to work through differences.
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- Understanding Individualism It is the idea that the individual
is the basic unit within a society. People are supposed to be able
to provide for themselves. People are supposed to be financially
independent and save for things like retirement.
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- Individualism Personal goals are deemed to be good. People who
fulfill their personal goals are respected and admired. The
implicit assumption is that only by attending to ones own needs
will society be OK.
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- Individualism Family is defined primarily as the nuclear
family. Children are taught to look out for themselves! They are
also taught to think for themselves.
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- Individualism Children are encouraged to be creative and
distinguish themselves from others. They are viewed as being
immature if, as they age, they continue to depend to much on
others.
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- Individualism Passages such as 1 Timothy 5:8 are interpreted to
mean taking care of children until they reach the age of adulthood
and providing for older parents in some capacity when they get to
old to care for themselves.
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- The Role of Money Most people believe on some level that it is
embarrassing to be in financial need. It is only acceptable if
there have been harsh extenuating circumstances like catastrophic
health problems or other calamities.
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- The Role of Money In individualistic societies money is very
important. It is often on peoples minds and it is usually a key
factor when making decisions. One characteristic of maturity is the
ability to plan ahead.
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- Scriptural Passages Matthew 25:1-13 Prudent & foolish
maidens Matthew 25:14-30 Faithful & unfaithful stewards Luke
14:28-30 Wise versus unwise builders
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- Scriptural Passages Romans 13:7-8 Pay taxes & owe no man
anything Proverbs 13:22 Providing an inheritance implicitly affirms
saving
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- Root Of Security Simply put, personal funds often equal
physical security in individualistic cultures. People are loyal to
personal funds for without these they often cannot function or
survive within their culture.
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- Collectivism Collectivism works differently. People from
collective cultures define themselves only in relation to others
within their in-group or community.
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- Collectivism People in these cultures do not reference I but
we. Family is broadly defined to include many aunts and uncles and
cousins. The responsibility of 1 Timothy 5:8 is broadly
defined.
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- Collectivism Children learn to get their ideas from the
opinions of others. Children with dissenting views are often seen
as having weak character.
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- Collectivism Brooks Peterson, in his book Cultural Intelligence
tells the story of children coloring in a country in Asia. Each
child was taught to color exactly like everyone else so all the
pictures displayed looked the same.
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- Collectivism Because identity is tied to the group, people
sacrifice personal conveniences and goals for the good of the
whole. What is owned by one is often seen as a communal asset.
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- Collectivism People are taught to rely and depend upon each
other if financial needs arise. People look to others for help with
medical bills, emergencies, funding the education of children and
young people, and so forth.
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- Collectivism Fulfillment, joy, and satisfaction come from
meeting others expectations and being loyal to the group. Those
with the most experience in the group, the elderly, are deemed with
the greatest respect.
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- Scriptural Passages Matthew 6:19-24 Do not store up financial
wealth Matthew 6:25-34 Do not worry about the future 2 Corinthians
8:14-15 Resources should be shared so all are equal
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- Scriptural Passages James 2:14-17 We should give every time we
see a brother in need Acts 2:41-47 The outcome of true spirituality
and revival is sharing all financial resources
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- Root Of Security In collective societies relationships are seen
as the only way to ensure security. Only relationships will protect
a person from the hardships life might bring. Total loyalty to the
group is expected.
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- Concept Of Face Since relationships are the medium by which
things are done, a persons reputation within the community is
critical. Although deeper than mere reputation, face is the concept
that rules these cultures.
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- Concept Of Face Face is lost when a person is shamed. A person
is shamed when he or she does not meet the expectations of others.
These expectations are linked to a persons job and status in the
group.
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- Concept Of Face In many instances face becomes the currency of
these cultures. Since face is needed to function effectively within
the community, people will often take drastic measures to restore
face if it is lost.
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- The Greatest Sins The greatest sins in collectivistic societies
are: Not sharing and helping others in the group; Causing another
to lose face; and Disrupting harmony and creating conflict that
damages relationships.
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- Gods Admonition To Both Matthew 6:24 Love God more than money
Matthew 10:37 Love God more than relationships with family
members
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- Thoughts? Stories? Questions?
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- The Spectrum: Degrees Of Low And High Context Communication Is
truth primarily found in words or is found primarily in non-verbal
messages and behaviors?
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- Low Context Communication Low context communication is the
predominant form of communication in America. There is a high value
placed upon words. Being direct is a sign of maturity.
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- Low Context Cultures This belief system was instilled in us as
children. Parents often admonish their kids by saying: Quit beating
around the bush! Say what you mean! Get to the point!
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- Low Context Cultures When someone is not direct they are often
perceived as being shifty. Such behavior is often deemed as being
untrustworthy.
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- There Are Other Paths Many collectivistic cultures utilize high
context communication. Words do not have the same value. Words are
spoken but they are secondary to the true message.
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- High Context Cultures Speaking directly to someone is often
viewed as being disrespectful. Only children are spoken to
directly. Adults are supposed to be sophisticated and
discerning.
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- High Context Cultures To speak directly to an adult is to
insinuate they are immature and as simple as a child. Directness in
adult communication is often viewed as a form of aggression.
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- The Ironic Thing With Money Often The Rules Flip A conference
in Thailand two years ago The Thai partner shared her experience In
many countries people are very direct in asking what you earn or
how much things you have cost. Yet we say we want
transparency?
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- Partnership Means Different Things We can use confusing
nomenclature such as family or friend but then our expectations
follow more of a business model?
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- Loans Work Differently The Story of Daniel & James &
The Story of The Inter-Agency Loan
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- Stealing Is Defined Differently Two Very Different Stories
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- Thoughts? Stories? Questions?
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- What Messages Are You Sending?
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- Contact Information: Mary Lederleitner Cell: (630)667-7690
Email: mary_lederleitner@wycliffe.net mary.lederleitner@wheaton.edu
Skype: mary.lederleitner
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