Global Business Perspectives

What is Cross Cultural Communication?

It is the process of exchanging meaningful and unambiguous information across cultural boundaries, in a way that preserves mutual respect and minimizes antagonism and creates inclusiveness.

Miscommunication is today’s greatest workplace hazard.  And with the world becoming smaller and more diverse, miscommunications seem to be happening more and more.  Why?

The typical consumer demographic is changing, our workforce is becoming more diverse, and technology is connecting us to people and regions we have never encountered before. 

People from different cultures encode and decode messages differently, increasing the chances of misunderstanding, so the safety-first consequence of recognizing cultural differences should be to assume that everyone’s thoughts and actions are not just like ours.

Here are just a few tips for having successful cross cultural communication.

• Research the cultures to gain understanding of a culture
• Set clear agendas and expectations of interactions/meetings
• Avoid using slang and idioms, choosing words that will convey only the most specific denotative meaning
• Listen carefully and, if in doubt, ask for confirmation of understanding (particularly important if local accents and pronunciation are a problem)
• Recognize that accenting and intonation can cause meaning to vary significantly
• Respect the local communication formalities/styles, and watch for any changes in body language
• Be careful of written word choices as your communication will be analyzed thoroughly by the recipient
• Investigate a culture’s perception of your culture by reading literature about your culture through their eyes before entering into communication. This will allow you to prepare yourself for projected views of your culture you will be bearing.
• If it is not possible to learn the other’s language, it is beneficial to show respect by learning a few words.

Remember the platinum rule:  Do unto others as THEY would have done to themselves not as we would do unto ourselves.

Do you have a story of when a cross-cultural communication encounter went terribly wrong and how you resolved it.  Please share!