Culture Is the Invisible Script Shaping Everything You Feel at Work

Most professionals don’t struggle at work because they lack skill. They struggle because they were never taught how to read people, culture, and unspoken expectations.

When communication breaks down, trust erodes. When trust erodes, performance follows.

Why Work Feels Harder Than It Should

You’ve probably experienced one of these

A meeting where everything felt tense, but no one said why

A colleague who seems “difficult” but you can’t explain it

Silence that feels like rejection

Feedback that lands harder than intended

Ideas that don’t land, even when they’re good

Most of the time, this isn’t about attitude or competence.

It’s about culture defaults colliding.

What are culture defaults?

These are unwritten rules of engagement that are commonly accepted and practised within a particular society. Every workplace has them

A leader once told me after a global meeting, “I think the team doesn’t like me.”

The meeting included people from London, Lagos, and Tokyo. He opened with jokes to warm the room.

London laughed. Lagos smiled politely. Tokyo stayed silent.

He read the silence as disapproval.

But in that cultural context, silence wasn’t resistance; it was respect.

That moment revealed something important:

Culture is invisible, but its impact is constant.

When you misread it, you misjudge people. When you understand it, collaboration becomes easier.

What I’ve Learned Working With Teams Across Cultures & Generations

After years of working with professionals, leaders, and teams across different environments, one truth stands out:

Most conflict is misinterpretation, not malice

“Difficult colleagues” are often misunderstood communicators

Silence can mean thinking, not disengagement

Tone often matters more than content

AI can read data — only humans can read rooms

This is why Cultural Intelligence (CQ) 

is now a core leadership skill.

Free Resource: Culture Defaults Cheat Code

To help people navigate this better, I created a simple, practical tool.

The Culture Defaults Cheat Code helps you:

Decode different communication styles

Reduce unnecessary friction

Stop taking behaviour personally

Respond with clarity instead of assumption

Collaborate better across difference

It’s short, practical, and designed for real workplace situations send a message for a copy, and you have it.

Charles Umeh

I teach leaders, teams, and organisations the human skills required to thrive in the modern workplace, especially in an AI-shaped world.

My work focuses on:

Cultural intelligence

Emotional intelligence

Trust, communication, and collaboration across difference

Through workshops, courses, and practical tools, I help people move beyond credentials and job titles to build meaningful, sustainable car

If work feels heavier than it should, you’re not broken.You’re just missing the language. im here to walk and work with you.