Frequently, I encountered communication barriers during the process of sourcing for fabrics in Kaduna, a state situated in Northern Nigeria where majority of locales communicate in their mother tongue and do not understand English language nor how it is produced. Nigeria is overall a high context culture, we have over 250 ethnic groups, the most populous and politically influential being Hausa-Fulani, Yoruba, Igbo (Ibo); each of these ethnic groups has its own unique cultures which impends on individual's inability to associate with others due to religious, cultural differences which has a significant impact on workplace norms. ​

In order to bridge the communication gap in workplace and for us to trade or collaborate with people from other cultural background. In 2018, during the inception of the Brand, we employed three young ladies whose job description were in delivery, production, sourcing of fabrics and customer service, unlike when all these roles were assigned to one individual. Shortly after the team joined, we started to have decreased productivity and inefficiency, some miscommunication between staff with utter chaos, frustration, lack of progress and at the extreme, one of the staff decides to leave.  ​
 At first, this spruced from cultural differences or low cultural intelligence (CQ). As time went on, we discovered that ​
 their orientation of leadership at workplace is totally different. We had been leading the team by the Egalitarian culture whereas they were used to the Hierarchical culture. ​
 In the Hierarchical culture in professional practice, the ideal distance between a boss and subordinate is high. Organizational structures are multi-layered and fixed. Communication follows set hierarchical lines. 
 In a quest to build a sustainable Brand with a strong team, we employed various strategies for working with people from Hierarchical culture and thus far, we have recorded more success.​

 Intercultural communication skill is much more than simply learning facts about other countries. It’s a willingness to see the world through someone else’s eyes, developing deep cultural knowledge, curiosity, and empathy, all while exploring your own cultural self-awareness. Understanding how to identify and address cultural differences allows us to facilitate productive communication and cultivate a positive company environment accepting of people from all cultures.​

Having identified the effectiveness of intercultural communication skills that enhance professional practice in setting up and running an owner/managed business with its Strengths, Weaknesses and Threats especially with relevance to Team Dynamics. In this Learning Outcome, I shall be looking into the various Opportunities that abound in managing a team with the right leader in a professional practice.
 
In managing a Team, it is important for me as a leader to
have a Team support; the right people in my Team could help me in growing a sustainable Brand, especially with the fact that I am currently studying for my Masters program in the UK while running a Brand in Nigeria. 
Developing a strong and unified team is an essential part of the management and leadership role. Leaders who build and develop effective teams have a critical advantage over others: synergy. Synergy is the principle that a team’s collective performance has the potential to greatly exceed the sum of its individual members’ performances.
 

In theory, the concept of team development is simple: assemble a group of talented people and task them with accomplishing a specific purpose. There’s a lot of skill and effort involved in turning a group of individuals into a functioning and productive team. Leaders must take account of and value the unique set of perspectives and experiences that each person brings to the team, while at the same time fostering a sense of community and belonging that drives people towards achieving the common purpose.

 
As an inspirational leader who is desirous of seeking better
ways at managing my team, investing in my professional development is very crucial and a non-negotiable approach to having an exponential growth in my business.
 
In my case, one of the professional skill that is relevant to becoming a successful leader is Coaching.
Successful people have coaches, because coaches help them figure out what they want to achieve with their businesses and how to get things done the right way. Everyone requires assistance and support of an experienced professional who can support them in getting where they want to go quickly.
Coaching is a powerful professional development tool which
has helped to develop my skills, awareness and improvement at work. 
   
Enrolling on a coaching plan with a global leader who understands the hurdles of growing a business has given me a foresight towards developing talent, ensuring staff stay motivated by identifying opportunities for growth. 
Furthermore, it has given birth to new skills, knowledge, network, boost my creativity, develop more effective processes and efficient ways of working. ​Mostly, it has improved employee
retention and helped to facilitate goal attainment.
  
  

  
  
 
 

 

 
 
 

 

 

By extension, the difference in intercultural and interprofessional communication in a high and low context society differs. For instance, with reference to my Learning Outcome 1, Nigeria practices a High Context Culture whereas the United Kingdom do the reverse. While High Context cultures rely heavily on non-verbal communication, Low Context cultures depend largely on word themselves.
 

Similarly, in any setting, the communication style is the same. No one way is preferred over the other. The communication style is amiable, analytical and expressive.
 

As Creatives, we have similar approach to problem-solving and adjusting to new situations, seeking the best practical option to resolving challenges in a way that includes others, motivates them and makes the work environment suitable for everyone. Creativity is a crucial factor to adaptability, taking initiative and accepting is part of the creative process, because art is about connection, not division.

 

A Team is a small number of people with complementary skills who are committed to a common purpose, performance goals and approach for which they hold themselves mutually accountable.

Regardless of the job or title, when it comes to working as a team, it nullifies any of those ranks because it is no longer individual based rather a teamwork. From the start, the goal is aimed at achieving the same outcome by working with mutual respect, dignity and harmony. Similarly, as a leader in any team, it is important to carry the team along. Motivation, guidance, creating trust, training them and creating an environment for self-development where team members can share and discuss their concerns is very vital.

 

In contrast, in setting up and running an owner/managed business is not a walk in the park, hence it is not advised for a Sole Trader to gain a first-hand experience mainly from starting the business. It is best when they master their skillsets from someone who is trained in that line of expertise, so they can understudy the nitty-gritties that comes with running a business as well as aid them to expand their network; that way they can build their customer data. From the managerial skills to the transferable skills.

However, capital, location, teams are key important factors to consider. 

 

1.    Limited access to capital & credit: One of the most difficult tasks, for any entrepreneur that wants to start up their very own small business, is to raise capital.

2.    Electricity/Power Supply: Getting access to constant electricity and a power supply is a major concern for businesses in Nigeria.

3.    Government regulations: The government plays a major role in the decision of how business gets done.

4.    Market developments: The main thing we are talking about here is disruption, such as digital or technological disruption

Despite these challenges, I had to draw a business plan that contains detailed facts and figures, statistics, my aims and objectives, a summary of my skills with a question-- 
Will it be sustainable in the next 5years?

More so, I factored in my finances—how to source for capital, and the teams to grow with. 

 

In order to raise funds, first, I crowd fund through my family and friends, did a couple of exhibitions within the West, South and the Northern part of Nigeria.

Furthermore, I wrote proposals to secondary schools that availed me the privilege to train their students in my skillsets. In turn, I collaborated with various Brands that gave me social media visibility across various platforms thereby reaching my target audience in all parts of the country. 

 

For the past 4years of growing Belladonald Designs, the Belbin Team Roles framework is one of our favourite tools which we have implemented in improving team performance.
Dr Meredith Belbin’s model for building successful teams – including leadership teams – is the result of years of research into the importance of understanding team dynamics.
 Dr Belbin believes that, by understanding my role within a team and playing to my strengths, I can increase my value to the team. With so much evidence that businesses perform better when their key players learn to develop their strengths and manage their weaknesses.
 
As a Team Leader, I often use the Belbin model to help create more-balanced teams while ensuring that necessary team roles are covered, and that potential behavioural tensions or weaknesses among team members are addressed. 

 

In 2014, as the business expanded its rebranding and global messaging was crucial for its rise, to its current status as Africa’s biggest Art and Craft company. 
-It is important for us to understudy how they manage their teams with its dynamics. 
-Learn how they have used storytelling as a tool to connect with their target audience.

This module has explored how the diversity within transnational teams might be used to maximum advantage. It has recognised the need for professional development which includes the development of cultural understanding, improved communication across teams.

Nigel, B. (2022, February 23). Transnational Professional Development: Setting up and running an Owner Managed Business.  https://files.coventry.aula.education/7d3c79ef3c3d23e876f0cacbe3c1457atpd___owner_managed_business__as_delivered_23rd_february_2022_p.pdf

Akosua, A. [A.A.K.S]. (2014, January 15). Social Media Site. A A K S (@a.a.k.s) • Instagram photos and videos

Steve, J. (2021, November 23). Inspire Leadership and Motivation in the Workplace. leadership and motivation at workplace - Search (bing.com)

Nigel, B. (2022, March 14). Transnational Professional Development: How to manage your first team. https://files.coventry.aula.education/03f2394cf87b0ce9873607128a9fca4etpd___how_to_manage_your_first_team___as_delivered_14th_march_2022_p.pdf