Cross cultural(ecs)

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.