Y is for Yarn
“Thanks for the yarn!” Why is this word ‘yarn’, and specifically the Australian yarn, so important? 🤔

The word ‘yarn’ in Australia often means to have a good, satisfying, informal conversation with someone.

Think about a time when you had a great catchup at a café with a good friend ☕ An Australian yarn is that kind of conversation. Each person shared stories, the other listened and then reciprocated. Each person leaves feeling a sense of connection, a sense of being seen and a sense of being heard.

One of my primary joys in training people in cross-cultural communication is that it often sets up a safe space for people to share their stories. Our First Nations’ cultures in Australia have been wise to this for a long time. They have ‘yarning circles,’ where cultural knowledge is passed on through stories and relationships with the group.

Stories often teach truths in an approachable way, rather than an explicit instruction. As we imagine ourselves in the other person’s shoes, we have empathy and are open to hearing their perspective. Hasan Minhaj and other modern comedians often use this to great effect in addressing racism and other hot-topic issues during their shows.

The good news is anyone can apply this – you don’t have to be Australian! I encourage you to start to be mindful of your yarns this week – pay attention to what stories you tell, what truths they teach and how people respond. You may be surprised at how effective a good yarn can be.

A-Z of Cross-Cultural Awareness
This blog post is part of a series of short posts on cross-cultural awareness. Keep an eye out for the rest of the series.