Listen to the Quiet Mind: Uncovering the Strengths and Coping Mechanisms of Introverts in Collaborative Learning in a Cross-Cultural Context

Abstract

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As global mobility increases its considerable momentum, cultural diversity has become a critical facet competing for strategic attention from management. Individual failure to initiate appropriate cultural adaptations in a culturally diverse collaboration may result in not only personal discomfort but also collective negative performance. Literature review shows that cultural competency is associated with personality. This study aims to explore introverts’ behaviors, motivations, and coping mechanisms contingent on cross-cultural collaboration at an individual level. This study probed into the subject matter with an exploratory approach, and qualitative data were collected from in-depth interviews with 12 introverted students studying in a culturally diverse environment as the main source and seven extroverted participants as supplementary sources for enhancing the research validity. The findings successfully answered the questions raised by this study by demonstrating the common patterns of the behavioral and affective aspects of introverts in cross-cultural collaboration, including their propensity to observe and listen, to be a follower, to need extra time to process information and verbalize ideas, to avoid conflicts, to make deliberate efforts, and to intentionally act extroverted, while their perspectives on the role of cultural differences were also found to diverge into negative and positive associations. The implications offered can help individuals improve collaborative performance when working in international settings.