THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | MARCH 2025 43 frustration, understand your own feelings, and manage how you respond. A humble and goodnatured response can defuse conflict, whereas anger and scolding can exacerbate the situation and lead to irreparable damage to the relationship in the long term. EEO complaints can sometimes be traced to a simple lack of cultural competency on the part of one or both parties in the complaint. Unchecked, perceived slights fester and grow as communications and relationships break down. In a global and increasingly diverse Foreign Service, leaders and managers must develop their cultural competency by actively learning about cultural speech patterns of their co-workers and contacts, become more self-aware of the cultural biases that we all possess, and exhibit greater empathy and emotional intelligence to defuse misunderstandings before they lead to a breakdown in relationships. As New York Times columnist and Columbia University professor John McWhorter, author of numerous works on the unique speech patterns of African American English, puts it: “Language is a powerful form of social identity, as it connects our communities and helps us express our unique experiences.” Regardless of race, gender, or ethnicity, the way an individual speaks is part of their social and cultural identity, and Foreign Service members need to understand and embrace these differences to create connections. n Indirectness in speech is also a major cultural attribute of language that can contribute to a breakdown in communication.
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