How should have Dumont prepared to conduct successful meeting with Native Americans?

The case helps to teach the benefits of knowing other people’s culture. The case is about having a meaningful communication with people. Notably, Dumont was ignorant of the sub-culture, and that was her major undoing. She found it difficult to facilitate the meeting, and she realized her mistake years later.

In order to create a more successful outcome, Dumont should have tried to absorb herself into the Native Americans culture before the meeting. Normally, by spending time in the new society, she would have become familiar with their values, and the people would have accepted her for sharing same cultural background. Considering she was coming in as a professional meeting facilitator, she was required to create rapport and understanding before the meeting took place. In fact, spending time with the locals prior to the meeting would have enabled her to know what is acceptable and what is not. In return, the society would have acknowledged her for acting according to existing norms and rules.

Principles of multicultural collaboration could have been effective in creating a more successful meeting. A culturally intelligent leader could have established a plan right before the meeting. The plan would involve understanding the sub-culture and appropriate ways of opening adjustments in a faster way. On her part, Dumont planned on how she was going to push the agenda, completely ignoring the sub-culture. In addition, an intelligent leader would have demonstrated lot of patience and the determination to change the attitudes of the two groups.

A culturally intelligent leader would ensure the local Native Americans and the non-profit agency have overcome their differences to realize a unified effort. The leader will achieve this by getting all the disagreeing parties on the table. Finally, the leader will be keen to understand the way the parties are communicating to create a proper meeting. On her part, Dumont failed to achieve a unified effort, and understanding the two sides.