169 - Facilitating with the Awareness of Cultural Background with Cynthia Umurungi

Cynthia Umurungi is a storyteller who gives a human voice to African organisations and businesses.

Her voice is one I have wanted to share on this podcast for a long time - and not only because I have underrepresented voices of African heritage so far on this podcast. Cynthia’s work delicately combines storytelling and creativity with deep empathy and insights.

In this episode, we explore the challenges of facilitating in a culture that isn’t your own, how team dynamics change across cultures, and how Western ideas of facilitation can falter in a non-Western workshop.

Broaden your horizons with this incredibly insightful, energetic episode! 

Find out about:

• Why cultural undercurrents in the room will determine your workshop’s effectiveness
• How to interpret shades of silence and find the thin line between thoughtful and tense
• How language and translation affect our sense of safety
• The need for openness and ‘no foolish questions’ when speaking in a second language
• Why clear language and expectations reduce your risk of unpleasant surprises
• How to use a ‘story wall’ to encourage creativity, sharing, and ice-breaking   

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Questions and Answers

Part one
[01:50] When did you start calling yourself a facilitator - do you?
[03:21] What have you learned about managing group dynamics from working in radio?
[04:58] What is your process for creating a safe environment in a radio interview and is it similar to how you work as a facilitator?
[09:16] Does the idea of 'active listening' come through differently on the African continent?
[12:01] Do you address cultural nuances and expectations directly with a group or do you let it emerge naturally?
[15:28] Can we even accurately translate the word 'vulnerability' into different languages?
[22:08] Are there role models you can point to across cultures who aren't Western?
[28:54] How do you deal with power imbalances and flatten the room?
[35:49] My experiences in Namibia, Burkina Faso, and South Africa showed me that dancing is a more natural cultural expression than in, say, the Netherlands. Can you use these cultural insights to flatten the room?

Connect to Cynthia:

On LinkedIn

On Twitter

Any thoughts? Share them with us!

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