When we talk about «cross-cultural communication» we are referring in the first place to the interaction between people from different cultures.
According to culture awareness expert Andy Molinsky, ‘global dexterity’ is key to successful cross-cultural understanding and can be defined as ‘the ability to adapt behaviour across cultures without losing who you are in the process.’
Modern professionals in business work with individuals from a wide range of diverse backgrounds and cultures, so it is very important for them to develop cultural intelligence. As business are expanding globally, these are 5 important tips to consider:
1 Understand cultural diversity
An effective communication strategy begins with the understanding that the sender and the receiver of a message may be from different cultures and backgrounds. Given different cultural contexts bring new communication challenges that should be considered in an effort to optimize communications between the two parties. A basic understanding of cultural diversity is the key to effective cross-cultural communications.
2 Develop awareness of individual cultures
Learning the basics about culture and at least something about the language of communication in different countries is important. This is necessary even for physical contact, which can be a tricky area inter-culturally. For instance, kissing a business associate is not considered an appropriate practice in the U.S., but in Paris, one peck on each cheek is an acceptable greeting. Patience, courtesy and a bit of curiosity go a long way.
3 Demand Mutual Acceptance
Another trick is a little education to cultivate and demand mutual acceptance. A member of the team that works out of the Australia office, for example, will be working in a different time zone and experiencing a delay. Or members of the India office will also observe different holidays (such as October 2 Mahatma Gandhi’s Birthday). Courtesy and goodwill can also go a long way in ensuring successful communication.
4 Make it simple
When you communicate, keep in mind that English is considered the international language of business. Try to make your best to keep your communication clear, simple and unambiguous. And avoid humor: many things that pass for humor in one culture can be seen as grossly offensive in another.
5 Ask for help
Because English is not the first language of many international businesspeople, their use of it may be peppered with culture-specific or non-standard English phrases, which can hamper the communication process. Having a first-class training may be the best solution. This is beyond much more the traditional English lessons. If you need (or want) more practice to recognize cultural and communication differences, look for the better consultancy.
- The global market for cross-cultural training services is expected to expand by$1.2 billion
- Companies with diverse workforces are 1.7 times more likely to be market leaders
- Here’s a challenge: remember your NONVERBAL COMMUNICATION
- Only half of the 800 million people who speak English learned it as a first language