Communicating across Cultures Chapter 7 Communicating across Cultures

Culture Shapes values, priorities, and practices Modern business requires dealing with other cultures

Successful Intercultural Communicator Aware of values, beliefs, and practices in other cultures Sensitive to differences among individuals within a culture Aware that one’s preferred values Are influenced by culture Are not always right

Successful Intercultural Communicator, continued… Willing to ask questions about preferences and behaviors. Flexible and open to change Sensitive to verbal and nonverbal behavior

Importance of Global Business Exports are essential to businesses and the economy Many companies depend on vendors who are located in other countries Companies adapt products and services for local cultures Managers often need international experience for top-level jobs

Sources of Workplace Diversity Gender Race and ethnicity Regional and national origin Social class Religion Age Sexual orientation Physical ability

Ways to Look at Culture: High-Context Cultures Infer most information from social relationships Convey little information explicitly Prefer indirectness, politeness, ambiguity Consider oral agreements more binding than written ones Rely heavily on nonverbal signs Latin American Japanese Arabic

Ways to Look at Culture: Low-Context Cultures Rely little on context Spell out most information Value directness: may see indirectness as dishonest or manipulative Value written word more than oral statements Scandinavian German North American

Ways to Look at Culture: Cultural Dimensions Power/Inequality Individualism/Collectivism Masculinity/Femininity Uncertainty Avoidance Long-term/Short-term Orientation

Values, Beliefs, and Practices Often unconscious Affect response to people and situations Different cultures have different views of Fairness Groups Competition Success Social status

Nonverbal Communication Communication without words Signals such as smiles and gestures May be misinterpreted as easily as words Important to be conscious of signals sent and received

Nonverbal Communication Types Body language eye contact – facial expressions – gestures Touch how much – who touches whom Space personal space Time being on time – measuring time

X Time Monochronic culture Polychronic culture People focus on clock Plan their time; avoid wasting it Polychronic culture People focus on relationships Disregard clocks and planners X

Other Nonverbal Symbols Clothing Colors Age Height

Oral Communication Requires cultural understanding Be aware of Understatement and exaggeration Compliments Approaches to Negatives

Writing to International Audiences Most cultures more formal than U.S. Avoid First names (use titles) Contractions Slang Idioms Sports metaphors

Writing to International Audiences, continued… Write in English unless fluent in audience’s language Reconsider patterns of organization Buffer negative messages; make requests indirect Re-think audience benefits; ones that motivate U.S. audience may not work Allow extra response time

Learning about International Business Communication Beyond a set of rules International business practices are constantly evolving/changing Seek and talk to people from other backgrounds Enhance understanding of multiple perspectives