Cross Culture Communication

CROSS-CULTURE COMMUNICATION

By

VENKATESAN.T

““The reasonable person adapts himself to the The reasonable person adapts himself to the world, while the unreasonable one persists world, while the unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself”in trying to adapt the world to himself”

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 "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.

Four Fundamental Patterns of Cultural Difference

What is different?1. Communication Styles

2. Attitudes toward conflicts

3. Decision making style

4. Approaches to knowing

Cross Culture CommunicationCross Culture Communication

Intercultural Communication is the process of Intercultural Communication is the process of sending and receiving messages between people sending and receiving messages between people whose cultural background could lead them to whose cultural background could lead them to interpret verbal and non-verbal signs differently.interpret verbal and non-verbal signs differently.

Why Cross Culture Why Cross Culture Communication is important ?Communication is important ?

Globalization: Globalization: Cross border movement of people, goods and Cross border movement of people, goods and data brings more and more cultures into contact with one data brings more and more cultures into contact with one another and increases the potential of cross culture another and increases the potential of cross culture communication.communication.

◦ Business OpportunitiesBusiness Opportunities◦ Job OpportunitiesJob Opportunities◦ Improves the contribution of employees in a diverse Improves the contribution of employees in a diverse

workforceworkforce◦ Sharing of views and ideasSharing of views and ideas◦ Talent improvisationTalent improvisation◦ An understanding of diverse marketAn understanding of diverse market

High Context and Low Context CulturesHigh Context and Low Context Cultures

High Context Culture:- Cultures that rely heavily on non-verbal and subtle situational cues in communication.

Low Context Culture:- Cultures that rely heavily on words to convey meaning in communication.

Eye Contact

In some cultures, looking people in the eye is assumed to indicate honesty and straightforwardness; in others it is seen as challenging and rude.

In USA, the cheapest, most effective way to connect with people is to look them into the eye.

Most people in Arab culture share a great deal of eye contact and may regard too little as disrespectful.

In English culture, a certain amount of eye contact is required, but too much makes many people uncomfortable.

In South Asian and many other cultures direct eye contact is generally regarded as aggressive and rude.

Cont…

Gesture:

•A motion of the hands, head or body to emphasize an idea or A motion of the hands, head or body to emphasize an idea or emotion.emotion.

USA=OK JAPAN=MONEY

RUSSIA=ZERO BRAZIL=INSULT

How can the same Gestures be treated differently in different cultures

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.

Cont…

Improving Cross Culture Communication

TEN Pre-cautions in Cultural TEN Pre-cautions in Cultural CommunicationCommunication

1.1. Slow DownSlow Down2.2. Separate QuestionsSeparate Questions3.3. Avoid Negative QuestionsAvoid Negative Questions4.4. Take TurnsTake Turns5.5. Write it downWrite it down6.6. Be SupportiveBe Supportive7.7. Check MeaningsCheck Meanings8.8. Avoid SlangsAvoid Slangs9.9. Watch the humorWatch the humor10.10. Maintain EtiquetteMaintain Etiquette

DEVELOPING CROSS CULTURAL COMMUNICATION SKILLS

"Tact is the ability to describe others as they see themselves.“ – Abraham Lincoln 

Skills To Overcome Differences

Respecting Differences and Working Together

Building Trust Across Cultural Boundaries

Understanding Body Language

Connecting with people

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.

Business is not a one day match