So the cross-cultural community has figured out some hints to deal with the cultural diversity, or with other words: Ten Strategies for Effective Cross-Cultural Communication: * Be flexible In a cross cultural conversation there’s no need to make it harder for both of you by using big words. But don’t slow down too much as it might seem patronising. 6. Ever since globalisation has taken over the storm, organisations have begun to interact … 2. Two syllable words are much easier to understand than three syllable words, and one syllable words are better than two syllable words. But we don’t have to go that far, it’s Intercultural Communication that I think it’s worth to have a look at. Effective cross cultural communication is about all parties feeling comfortable. * Lespect differences Communication skills courses Thanks to her family background as well as intercultural communication classes Brigitte will share her unique insight into this subject and she will write a couple of posts for us about cultural […], 9 Months of Research Out The Window (5th Month), Our team member Tanya has been blogging about all types of pregnancy questions that she has been facing during the first months of her current pregnancy. 53. Restate or summarise what the other person has said, to ensure that you have understood them correctly, and ask frequent questions. Cross-cultural communication has become strategically important to companies due to the growth of global business, technology, and the Internet. Modulating your pace will help, as will speaking clearly and pronouncing your words properly. Check Meanings: When communicating across cultures never assume the other party has understood. Use a trained interpreter rather than a family member to translate, when needed. As a result you could end up confusing them or at worst, offending them. Don’t phrase a question that needs a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ answer. Strategies for Effective Intercultural Communication. Active listening is a very effective strategy for improving cross cultural communication. The internet and modern technology have opened up new marketplaces that allow us to promote our businesses to new geographic locations and cultures. One way to deal with it is learning with the help of stereotypes. These are the “hidden” elements that can cause us so much difficulties to communicate. Richard D. Lewis, a British linguist and cross-cultural communication consultant, describes the visible part as obvious differences like working hours or ways to greet each other which are easy to find out. …Due authority examples, recognition, flexibility, active listening,self-awareness, ask questions, avoid stereotypes, etc Germany and Spain: So uniquely different! 1. For effective cross-cultural communication, it’s important to learn about, and understand, how language and culture are connected and the ways that culture influences what we say and how and why we say what we say. Quite often, the different aspects of culture are compared with an Iceberg. Regarding from which culture you are, you might not find them funny!) For instance when coming late to a meeting, when blowing your nose loudly, when interrupting somebody else talking, when boring others with facts & figures or when you suddenly clap somebody on his/her shoulders? Have at least some knowledge of people’s cultural backgrounds; Practice active listening; Watch your nonverbal communication; Maintain a personal touch; It is important to understand the way people comprehend, communicate and make decisions … These basic tips can go a long way in minimising misunderstandings and maximising your cross-cultural communication skills. In any conversation with a non-native English speaker, treat them with respect, do your best to communicate clearly and give them encouragement when they respond. Strategies for Effective Communication: First Impressions; Non-Verbal Communication; Show Respect; Listening Skills; Active listening; Stay focused when you listen; Other Languages and Cultures; Communicating in a Noisy Environment; Making Oral Reports; Using the Telephone; Giving Directions and Feedback; Effective Communication in an Organization:15 Strategies 1. For example, many cultures expect a degree of formality at the beginning of communication between individuals. Every culture has its own specific way of indicating this formality: ‘Herr’ and ‘Frau’ in Germany, reversing family and given names in China and the use of ‘san’ in Japan for men and women etc. Effective communication in one culture can be ineffective in another culture. Be Supportive: Effective cross-cultural communication is in essence about being comfortable. It involves briefly restating the speaker’s statements to eliminate the possibility of misinformation. Restate or summarise what the other person has said, to ensure that you have understood them correctly, and ask frequent questions. 3. Consequently they don’t appreciate the use of humour and jokes in a business context. Yet, less than a quarter of professionals report receiving formal training or even virtual team guidelines! * Be honest Cultural “problems” and differences can be so hard to deal with but should be a great opportunity to learn if you’re open for it!! It takes special skills to communicate across these many cultures. Here are our top ten tips for effective cross-cultural communication: Many cultures have specific etiquette around the way they communicate. Before you meet, research the target culture, or if time allows, do some cross cultural training. Wikipedia defines it as “standardized and simplified conceptions of groups based on some prior assumptions”. Make the conversation flow more freely by taking it in turns to speak. Break your sentences into short, definable sections and give your listener time to translate and digest your words as you go. This 3-part series of articles will discuss different cross cultural negotiation strategies. Cross-cultural communication can be a tricky business. They are quite more difficult to bring to the surface and a lot of times they lead to misunderstandings, especially at work. Ten Strategies for Effective Cross-Cultural Communication. There is a saying that goes: 
In the US everything is allowed unless it’s prohibited. Even if English is the common language in a cross cultural situation it’s not a good idea to speak at your normal conversational speed. And your biggest challenge on virtual teams is the cross cultural one, a whole other layer on top of the other virtual team elements, one that is always lurking in the background.” Consider the role of silences in each patient encounter. ~ Be it a hobby class or workplace training, make sure the training material has an easy-to-understand language for any group of individuals. Listening. Interpersonal skills courses Be aware of these familiarity tokens and don’t jump straight to first name terms until you receive a cue from the other person to do so. Things you might consider as “normal”, for others might be surprising, puzzeling, frustrating or even upsetting. Every culture has its own set of tacit assumptions and tendencies when it comes to face-to-face interactions, and trying to get your point across effectively can sometimes be difficult. In today’s diverse workplace, communication issues can take on an added dimension of complexity. Many cultures take business very seriously and believe in behaving professionally and following protocol at all times. We realise your data is important to you and will process it in accordance with our Privacy Policy. ©2007 - 2020 cHRysos HR Solutions Limited, Accredited Specialists in CIPD Qualifications, Training Source: jordanerickson@weebly.com. A team is the synergy of distinct mindsets and skillsets that collaborate to work for a common purpose. This talk was given at a local TEDx event, produced independently of the TED Conferences. Learn about different cultures and values: Both within and outside the US. …Make decisions Finally you go to Latin America or the Middle East: Everything is allowed, even if it’s prohibited. Therefore, cross-cultural online collaborative learning utilizing web 2.0 technologies is proposed in this paper as a way to cultivate students’ cross-cultural competence. As well as demonstrating active listening, you need to hone your communication skills. These are the ones we like to discover while travelling. Here are some simple tips to help you improve your cross-cultural communication: Slow Down. Take turns to talk & HR Services. It is anyway difficult to manage a team with disparate personalities.What makes it even more challenging is managing a cross-cultural team that transcends different cultures and geographies.. 3)What are the most significant strategies for effective cross-cultural communication In today’s society, most workplaces will be populated with employees from different countries and cultures. Share this: Twitter; Facebook; Like this: Related. Be … Very interesting post for me..I want to go to Ireland this summer and it will take good note of your advices , Your email address will not be published. This helps build rapport and ensures that important information doesn’t get missed or misunderstood. face to face communication. 4. For more information about how cHRysos HR can help you or your teams successfully achieve further qualifications, contact us on info@chrysos.org.uk or call +44 (0)1302 802128. Actually, there are some really good ones … (Caution! ; Use shared language: Avoid slang and jargon.Use day-to-day vocabulary. This will help build their confidence and trust in you. …Lead and manage Korean Business Letters: Strategies for Effective Complaints in Cross-Cultural Communication Mi Young Park, W. Tracy Dillon, and Kenneth L. Mitchell The Journal of Business Communication (1973) 1998 35 : 3 , 328-345 There is no good or bad culture, they are just different! In this post we will work with 7 power strategies and throughout the series will refer to the following workplace example borrowed from interculturalist Andy Molinsky to contextualize what cross cultural negotiation looks like. Cross-cultural communicationis the process of recognizing both differences and similarities among cultural groups in order to effectively engage within a given context. * Build self-awareness It also involves asking relevant questions to ensure proper understanding of the speaker’s message. Born and raised in Germany, Brigitte now lives in Barcelona and has both lived and experienced how different we can perceive other cultures. * Distinguish perspectives Its focus is for PR consultants, however, the info is highly beneficial for any cross-cultural communication. So, first step is to become aware of our own behavior! Active listening is another effective strategy ensuring proper communication in a cross-cultural workplace. Particularly when people are speaking English as their second language it’s better to talk to them in short exchanges rather than delivering a long monologue that might be difficult for them to follow. The business environment of the 21st century is expanding to include people from cultures and countries around the world. Not even the most educated non-native English speaker will have a comprehensive understanding of English slang, idioms and sayings. Ten Strategies for Effective Cross-Cultural Communication. * Listen actively …Work in teams In her post about being […], EMAGISTER Training services, S.L. Your email address will not be published. Article by Doulaing The Doula. Giving encouragement to those with weak English gives them confidence, support and a trust in you. Build awareness of differences in communication style (e.g., verbal and nonverbal) that may influence care. You might ask now: Does my culture really affect me and my way of communicating? Be approachable and open. Quite often, the different aspects of culture are compared with an Iceberg learning Languages simplified... Cultures in the USA, it ’ s diverse workplace, communication issues can take on an added of. A personal level as on a professional level these things are so evident in our day to life. About being comfortable be ineffective in another culture PR consultants, however, the info highly. 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