Last week I was invited to facilitate an Emotional Intelligence training programme for 22 participants at an interior decorating firm. Their offices were funky and creative with a vibe imported directly from one of the trendiest neighbourhoods of San Francisco. During the initial conversations with the employees I found out that this group has been working together for more than 3 years were roughly around the same age and level of education but consisted of 12 different nationalities.

Now as you know here in the UAE we're not a melting pot - meaning people from all around the world who have come to live and work here don't melt into one mainstream culture like the United States or Australia for example. We're more of a 'Tossed Salad' as I like to call it because people predominately retain their cultural value systems habits and practices. They may adopt some new ways of 'being' as a result of interacting with other cultures but in essence a tomato remains and tomato as does a cucumber - hence tossed salad.

This societal feature can pose a number of performance and health related challenges as we navigate our way in a culturally diverse setting especially at work. As I observed this group for the next 3 days I was so impressed by their seamless collaboration style of communication courteous mannerism teamwork and how they supported one another through this developmental process.

We addressed work place etiquette at different stages of the programme and it was clear that such synergy doesn't just happen. In other words it's intentional not accidental and so in order for you to establish and sustain a functional and healthy environment here are a number of practical behaviours you can do more of at the work place to achieve that. Needless to say this scenario is likely to also have a positive impact on your personal life and prevent unnecessary concerns.

> Say good morning to everyone as you walk in not just a select few

> Smile and show a pleasant disposition regardless of what might be happening in other dimensions of your life

> Be courteous to all and expect the same from others

> Admit your mistakes when responsible for mishaps

> Dress appropriately avoiding clothing that is too short or too tight - remember you're at work not at a nightclub. Let people see your skills not your body parts.

> Be punctual

> Always resolve conflict and don't allow tension to linger creating unnecessary stress which can result in burnout

> Don't text or read messages when a colleague is trying to speak to you

> Always ask for clarification if your colleague's level of English is higher or lower than yours

> Follow up verbal communication with emails to confirm comprehension of the subject discussed

> Try and socialise with everyone on the team. One of the main reasons employees get demotivated is that they feel ignored marginalised and sidelined - favouritism has many negative consequences

> Performance recognition should be fair and similar for all

> Respect your colleagues' time by not assuming that you can repeatedly interrupt them throughout the day - schedule discussions instead

> Try and stay at home when sick so that you can recover and other people don't get infected

> Put your mobile phone on vibration mode so the office isn't polluted with a multitude of ring tones all day long

> Be aware of your tone of voice. Avoid speaking too loud or using a 'bedroom voice' - this is when women especially use a low sultry whispery tone in messages or in direct verbal communication. Your tone should be firm assertive and respectful.

> Try and avoid communication with colleagues outside of working hours unless absolutely necessary.

> There's a fine line between admiring colleagues and becoming obsessed by them. Have a clear boundary both psychologically as well as physically so that and you don't send the wrong message and others don't make assumptions about your relationship.

> Learn to agree to disagree at times

> Show interest in your colleagues cultural backgrounds by asking questions and getting to know more about their how they operate

> Don't talk about other colleagues behind their back - try and address issues instead of gossiping

> Spending time with colleagues and their partners outside of work allows you to get to know them better but always respect and remain mindful of boundaries

> Stay calm and try to remain composed even in the tensest moments

> Avoid wearing too much make-up or strong perfumes or colognes

> Don't take things from others without asking especially from the refrigerator

> If a colleague is behaving inappropriately speak to them in private and explain how their actions are impacting others. Conclude by suggesting ways they may change their behaviour outlining the positive outcome of deciding to do so.

So enjoy the rest of your weekend and be mindful of some of these very simple but impactful skills you can practice in order to have a more peaceful and productive working ecosystem.

Dr Samineh I. Shaheem is an assistant professor of psychology learning & development specialist and the owner of Life Clubs UAE. Please forward your thoughts/ suggestions for future articles to