© Prentice Hall, 2005 Business Communication Today 8eChapter 3 - 1 Communicating Interculturally

© Prentice Hall, 2005 Business Communication Today 8e Chapter 3 - 1

Communicating Communicating InterculturallyInterculturally


Intercultural Intercultural CommunicationCommunication

• Global marketplace

• Multicultural workforce


Barriers to Going GlobalBarriers to Going Global

• Accounting and taxes

• Labor laws

• Remote headquarters

• Business systems

• Cultural differences

• Personal behavior


The Global The Global MarketplaceMarketplace

Opportunities

Growth Potential

New Customers

New Markets

New Sources of Labor

Work Opportunities

Challenges

Laws and Customs

Volatile Currencies

Ethical Standards

Labor Skills

Politics and Economics


Advantages of a Advantages of a Multicultural WorkforceMulticultural Workforce• Diverse markets

• Broader viewpoints

• Expanded talent pool


Challenges of Challenges of Intercultural Intercultural

CommunicationCommunication• Meaning of words

• Significance of gestures

• Importance of time and space

• Rules of relationships


The Concept of CultureThe Concept of Culture

• Shared systems– Priorities– Attitudes– Rules


Established CulturesEstablished Cultures

• Automatic

• Coherent

• Complete


Negative Cultural Negative Cultural AttitudesAttitudes

• Ethnocentrism

• Xenophobia

• Stereotyping


Cultural PluralismCultural Pluralism

• Accepting distinctions

• Avoiding assumptions

• Avoiding assumptions


Cultural DifferencesCultural Differences

• Contextual

• Legal and ethical

• Social

• Nonverbal

• Age

• Gender


Cultural ContextCultural Context

• Decision-making practices

• Problem-solving techniques

• Negotiating styles


Legal and Ethical Legal and Ethical BehaviorBehavior

• Seek common ground

• Withhold judgment

• Send honest messages

• Respect differences


Social Behavior Social Behavior DifferencesDifferences

• Work and success

• Roles and status

• Use of manners

• Concepts of time


Nonverbal DifferencesNonverbal Differences

• Greetings and touching

• Personal space

• Facial expressions

• Eye contact

• Posture

• Formality


Age DifferencesAge Differences

• Youth-oriented cultures

• Senior-oriented cultures


Gender DifferencesGender Differences

• Influences on Communication–Workplace hierarchy– Decision-making styles– Problem-solving styles


Improving Intercultural Improving Intercultural Communication SkillsCommunication Skills

• Study other cultures and languages

• Respect communication styles

• Speak and write clearly

• Listen carefully

• Use interpreters or translators

• Help others adapt to your culture


Studying Other CulturesStudying Other Cultures

• Social customs• Clothing and food• Political patterns• Religious and folk beliefs• Economics and business• Ethics, values, and laws


Learning LanguagesLearning Languages

• Facilitate communication

• Build language skills

• Choose words wisely


Respecting CulturesRespecting Cultures

• Communication preferences

– Degree of formality

– Level of directness

–Writing or speaking


Writing ClearlyWriting Clearly

• Use plain English• Strive for brevity• Strive for clarity• Use transitions• Use proper addresses• Avoid slang and idioms• Cite numbers carefully• Keep paragraphs short


Speaking ClearlySpeaking Clearly

• Speak distinctly and slowly

• Rephrase when necessary

• Seek feedback

• Don’t patronize

• Learn basic phrases

• Gain agreement


Listening CarefullyListening Carefully

• Vocal patterns– Pitch– Tone– Speed– Volume


Using Interpreters or Using Interpreters or TranslatorsTranslators

• Human beings– Interpretation– Cultural context– Non-verbal cues

• Software– Translation–Words and phrases– Gist of the message


Communication Communication ChallengesChallenges

• Speaking and listening– Conference calls– Face-to-face conversations

• Reading and writing– Intranet sites– Email and instant messaging

Documents

© Prentice Hall, 2005 Business Communication Today 8eChapter 3 - 1 Communicating Interculturally