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Cross-Cultural Communication
Welcome Topics & Topics to Avoid
during Conversation
Communication and Culture
Cultural Fluency
1) Essential for effective cross-cultural communication
2) Consists of understanding yourown cultural lenses
3) Understanding communicationvariation across cultures
4) Applying these understandings toenhance relationships
Common Cultural Differences
Perception of Time
Perception of Space
Fate and Personal Responsibility
Importance of Face
Nonverbal Communication
Perception of Time and Space
Time
• Monochromic -- linear quantitative time, most common in the northern and western hemispheres
• Polychromic -- cyclical time w/ unraveling and unlimited continuity, most common in southern and eastern hemispheres
Space -- differences in comfortabledistance between people
What is a culture?
Culture is the "lens" through which
you view the world.
It is central to what you see,
How you make sense of what you see,
How you express yourself.
"Culture is the arts elevated to a set of beliefs."
Fate and Personal Responsibility
Extent to which we feel ourselvesto be the masters of our live.
Extent to which we see ourselvesas subject to things outside ourControl.
Face and Face-Saving
Face is the standing a person has in the eyes of others
The importance of “face” andface-saving varies across cultures
• Some cultures value “face” more than their own well-being
• Other cultures do not care about face all that much
Nonverbal Communication
Different cultures use different systems of understanding nonverbal cues
• Low-context cultures -- place relatively less emphasis on nonverbal cues
• High-context cultures -- place relatively more emphasis on nonverbal cues
WARNING!
These categories (time, space, fate, face, context, etc.) are both oversimplified and non-exhaustive!
Negotiators should be aware of differences and respond appropriately.
Business in Today’s Scenario is not a
“National Match” but is a
“Olympics”, where there are
International Players. Only that
Individual / Company can survive
which has done its homework well &
developed its uniqueness.
What is different?
1. Communication Styles
2. Attitudes toward conflicts
3. Decision making style
4. Approaches to knowing
What is hidden below the surface?
1. Beliefs
2. Values
3. Expectations
4. Attitudes
Four Fundamental Patterns of Cultural Difference
CODES USED IN COMMUNICATION
Verbal Communication
Words
Voice
Non-Verbal Communication
Gestures
Postures
Facial Expressions
Eye Contact
Vocal Characteristics
Personal Appearance
Touch
Cross Culture Communication
Intercultural Communication is the process
of sending and receiving messages between
people whose cultural background could
lead them to interpret verbal and non-verbal
signs differently.
Blocks to Cultural Communication
1. Ethnocentrism : Inability to accept another culture's world view;
"my way is the best."
2. Discrimination : Differential treatment of an individual due to
minority status; actual and perceived; e.g., "we just aren't equipped to
serve people like that."
3. Stereotyping : Generalizing about a person while ignoring presence
of individual difference; e.g., "she's like that because she's Asian – all
Asians are nonverbal."
4.Cultural Blindness: Differences are ignored and one proceeds as
though differences did not exist; e.g., "there's no need to worry
about a
person's culture
5.Cultural Imposition: Belief that everyone should conform to the
majority; e.g., "we know what's best for you, if you don't like it
you can go elsewhere."
6.Tone Difference : Formal tone change becomes embarrassing and
off-putting in some cultures.
TEN Pre-cautions in Cultural Communication
1. Slow Down
2. Separate Questions
3. Avoid Negative Questions
4. Take Turns
5. Write it down
6. Be Supportive
7. Check Meanings
8. Avoid Slangs
9. Watch the humour
10. Maintain Etiquette
How do you do it?
• The handshake should be firm.
• While shaking hands establish eye contact and
always smile
• The person who initiates the handshake is the
one who closes it.
