What to do to have Cross Cultural Communication Skills

Cross cultural communication skills are the key to effective social interactions and understanding in the global marketplace. But, despite their importance, learning cross-cultural communication skills is often time consuming and difficult. There are many different schools of thought on what to focus on when it comes to learning how to communicate with people from other cultures. We’ve put together a list of resources that can help you become more knowledgeable with cross-cultural communications and make connections easier!

Where can we learn more about cross-cultural communication

Cross cultural communication skills continue to be important in the workplace. Increasing employee diversity and the globalization of business has made it crucial for businesses, leaders and managers to learn how to effectively communicate with cross-cultural individuals.

For example, studies reveal that on average there are around 5,000 cultural differences between U.S. employees and those in other countries. This is because culture varies not only by country, but also regionally within each country!

There are many different ways people can learn cross-cultural communication skills. Below you will find a list of resources that can help you build your knowledge and understanding of global cultures through a variety of mediums including books, films, television shows and news articles.

Books

reading books that pertain to your specific interests. Here are five different cross-cultural communication books, each covering a different aspect of communication including: cross-cultural interaction ethics differences in values and beliefs verbal and nonverbal behavior communications strategies between Eastern and Western cultures

1. Successful Global Leadership: Frameworks for Cross-Cultural Managers and Organizations, by Ramon Henson, is a great starting point if you are just beginning to learn about how to deal with people from other countries.
2. Cross Cultural Communication: A Visual Approach by Richard D. Lewis is a great resource when it comes to mapping out the basics of cultural communication.
3. Cultures and organizations software of the mind by geert hofstede is one of the best resources for learning about cultural values and their influence on organizations.
4. The culture map by erin meyer is a great book for learning about the different values and belief systems of different countries.

News Articles

Although it is always best to read the original source of an article, sometimes you may find an interesting article to be able to understand completely. In these cases, you can use Google translate for the language(s) you do not understand!
International travelers are often bombarded with cultural comments and customs. Here is a short list of some of the most common conversation starters that you can use to break the ice and make immediate connections.

TV shows

Sometimes TV shows are a great way to find out more about other cultures and improve your cross-cultural communication skills. Whether you’re looking for romance, comedy or news shows, there are TONS of different types of television shows out there and have several characters, both real and fictional that you can learn from!

Sharpen your cross-cultural communication skills

 

When you want to build a relationship with someone from another culture, you’ve got to be prepared. Sometimes it takes more than a translation app. With the right communication skills, you can navigate any social or business interaction with ease and confidence.

In this blog post, we’ll show you how to communicate better in another culture by understanding their values, beliefs, goals and perspectives, and how to speak in a way that builds rapport and facilitates collaboration with them effectively:

Start by building mutual trust and liking

When you talk with someone, watch how they respond to you. Are they engaged? If not, try a change in topic or approach. Ask open-ended questions that encourage a long-term relationship (not just a sales pitch). Consider what might be motivating them to speak with you – what do they stand to gain or lose by talking or not talking? In some cultures, it may be difficult to tell what’s motivating someone; in others, it may be obvious from their body language or tone of voice.

It helps if both sides feel the other is similar in values, beliefs and culture.

Use the right language

Don’t use humor when you are trying to build rapport. Humor is important in everyday life, but it’s not engaging when you’re trying to build relationships. If you are trying to get someone to listen, use a light tone of voice and encourage them by saying “please” or “thank you.”

If they do not understand what you mean, try to understand their perspective in terms of their culture. The more you understand about their culture, the more you can speak and interact in a way that is meaningful to them.

Observe body language

Watch how your audience responds to what you are saying, and pay close attention to the non-verbal cues they’re giving off when they listen to you. If they aren’t paying attention or responding, they may not want to talk with you any further. If they look bored or frustrated, there are other people who may be able to help them get the information they need.

Listen carefully. Be very observant

If you’re talking with someone and they seem to be faking it – agreeing, asking questions, responding – they may not be convinced of your point. They may want to hear more details on how you can help them. If the body language indicates that they are not mentally engaged, find out what’s keeping them distracted and try again later.

Contextualize your statements

In some cultures, directness is valued; in others, indirectness is valued. In some cultures, blunt statements are okay; in others, it is seen as rude and impolite to be so direct. If you are direct and someone is offended, you may not share the same values and need to use a different approach. In some cultures, the indirect approach is preferred and understood as rakish charm.

Build rapport

Rapport comes from reciprocity – that is, when communication works well it has more give-and-take from both parties. Start by really listening, showing interest in their views, and asking questions to get them talking about what’s important to them. Then ask for advice on how you can improve your business or contribute more effectively to the organization. This approach is especially helpful if you are trying to build a relationship with a client, business partner or team member.

Use body language and tone of voice that lead to compliance

In some cultures, obedience is valued. In others, it’s important to have your own opinions. In some cultures, being assertive is seen as impolite and aggressive; in others, it may be seen as brave and bold. When you are assertive in these situations, the other person may feel intimidated by you. Slight changes such as a slight crook in your smile or shifting in your posture may change the perception of your stance on an issue.

Focus on the other person

Ask open-ended questions to help you understand how they see the situation. Do they agree with your point of view? Why or why not? What are their concerns and objections? What are their thoughts on using our solution for this problem? How can we make this work for them? How can we overcome any barriers to implementation? These questions will get them thinking about their own beliefs and values, which may lead to better ways for you to help them than you had imagined before.

A quick example:

In some countries, when people shake hands or bow in greeting or departure, it’s a sign of respect and friendliness that shows they wish each party well.

In other countries, it’s not unusual to be perceived as rude if you do not shake hands or bow.

In some countries, eye contact is very important when listening to someone else; in others, it’s seen as impolite and disrespectful.

In some cultures, touching or patting another person to calm them down is appropriate; in others, it’s seen as flirtatious or inappropriate.

Work on pronunciation

If you mispronounce a word or don’t have the right tone of voice, the other person may not understand what you are trying to express. Asking someone to repeat themselves is an easy way to get clarification.

Don’t be afraid to ask questions

If you are nervous, pretend that you are on a blind date and ask them what they like to do for fun. Ask which movies or restaurants they prefer, or what kinds of music they like the most. A little small talk can help both of you relax while they tell you more about themselves and their culture. You may find out something that could help build your relationship with them or help you increase sales in your business.

Be aware of their environment

As much as possible, try to learn about their culture, where they are from, their beliefs and values. If you are meeting with a group of people in a business meeting, it helps to know how they see the situation in which everyone is involved. For example, if you ask your team member what the main points are of the conversation and they don’t get it – or if you ask them which point they agree with – their answer may be perceived as rude.

If most people talk about the same thing and one person does not participate – or give a different answer than others do – this may not be perceived as rude with some cultures. It is about context in any culture.

Be aware of the gifting culture

If a gift can be used for personal consumption, it is likely that the receiver will consume it. If it is a work-related gift and you’d like to keep it for long-term use, be sure to thank the giver for their generosity and offer to purchase something worth equal value in return. Remember, in a gift culture, everyone benefits from the exchange.

Try to understand their values

If you are from a culture that is not very appreciative of humor, you may need to focus on facts and figures to get across what you are trying to say. Understanding the client’s values and beliefs about the world can help make your presentation more culturally appropriate.

It’s best to know if there are any cultural differences between your client or customer and yourself in regard to:
– long-term purchasing decisions, such as when they buy their car or house;
– making monthly payments on their credit cards;
– using financial services; and/or
– the type of product they prefer to purchase.

In some cultures, it is common for people to wear a special hat on special occasions. In other cultures, this is not done. There are differences in clothing expectations and communication styles because of cultural norms.

The bottom line is that there are many ways to communicate more effectively with clients and customers around the world, which will help you build relationships, improve loyalty and increase sales. And that all goes back to making your customers more successful at being entrepreneurs.
And if your relationships are not driven by business, it is more likely that they will be driven by feelings and emotions. So let your contact know that you are still learning about the culture and would like to understand them better.

And remember: No one is perfect, and everyone makes mistakes! If you know that you have made a mistake – or if your contact tells you that you have made a mistake – be open to it.

“In many countries like Germany, Switzerland, Skandinavian countries, Turkey, Japan, Korea etc. it is common use to take off the shoes when entering someone’s home.” -utesinternationallounge.com

Take off your shoes… or not?

When visiting someone’s home, take off your shoes at the door, even if it is apparent that no one wears shoes in the house or living room. If in doubt about where to remove shoes or if you think there may be some confusion about what is considered a ‘home’ (elevators, public bathrooms), remove your shoes just out of respect and don’t hesitate to ask if it is okay.

In general, cross-cultural communication skills are necessary to be successful in business as in personal life. There will be misunderstandings and there will be differences, but the important thing is to take a step forward to try to understand others.