Cross Cultural Communication

Building Stronger Businesses Across Boundaries

BABU P GEORGE

Ingredients for CCC

What is culture?

Classification of cultures (Hofstede’s)

What is cross cultural communication (CCC)?

Importance of CCC in modern business

Understanding different cultures

Adapting to different cultures

Avoiding cultural miscommunication

Framing your verbal and written communication

Globally accepted practices

“What did you mean?”

What is culture?

Race

Ethnicity

Gender

Class

Religion

Language

Country of origin

Geographic region

Culture is defined by your :

Classification of cultures

According to Geert Hofstede’s cultural dimension theory, cultures around the world are divided according to:

Power Distance Index

Individualism vs Collectivism

Uncertainty Avoidance Index

Masculinity vs Femininity

Long term orientation vs Short term orientation (Added after new survey done by Michael Harris Bond,1991)

Indulgence vs Restraint (Based on latest survey by Michael Minkov, 2010)

Based on study done by Geert

Hofstede in 1967-1973

Cross Cultural Communication

Framing

Nurturing

Enhancing

relationship with people who belong to

different culture than yours.

CCC relates to-

A good cross cultural training will ensure empowers

a person with: Knowledge

Understanding

& skills

he needs to communicate and cooperate

effectively across cultural barriers

Importance of CCC in

modern day business

Creating respect for diversity and thereby creating more conducive and welcoming environment

Helps in selecting the most effective way of communication with others

Willingness to meet the cultural needs of employees will motivate the whole team

Tolerating the differences and embracing them will make the business relations go a long way

Will help in understanding religious, gender, generational and socio-economic differences

Assist in knowing how others want to be treated and not always following the “Golden Rule”

Understanding different cultures

Your right may be totally wrong for another culture

Do your homework before you go

Avoid stereotyping

Be flexible, honest, listen and ask questions

Be patient, polite, open-minded and open-hearted

Understand the complexity of the situation

Respect others’ culture and create respect for yourself

Adopting to different

cultures

Culture Shock: Feeling uncomfortable finding oneself in a new culture

Learning from locals, friends and coworkers about dos and don’ts of the new culture

Making mistakes and let others make mistakes

When in Rome, …ask questions!

Treat them as they want you to treat them, not as you want to be treated

Readjusting lifestyle and habits to adapt to a new culture

Finding and making new friends and business connections

Resolving cultural

miscommunication

Be comfortable dealing with conflict

Be committed to resolving disputes close

to the source

Resolve disputes based on interests

before rights and power

Learn from experience with conflicts.

(Cutcher-Gershenfeld and Kochan)

Avoiding Cultural

Miscommunication

Find a common ground

Developing proper informational context

Develop a high trust level taking time

Have good quality of information and provide the same

Have the humility to apologize and explain

Framing verbal and written

communication

Use proper salutation techniques (Mr., Ms., Dr., Prof., Sir,

Madam., etc.)

Know country-specific rules of shake-hands, hugs, pats and

kisses

In doubt?- ASK!!!

Know the local way of greeting people and giving reply to the

greetings

Check your grammar

Be specific

Framing verbal and written

communication

Do not BCC

Use a clear subject matter

Be very cautious about CC

Use simple language

Do not use all CAPS and unnecessary BOLD or colorful text

If something needs immediate attention, pick up the phone

Use a proper ending and a signature

What

Brits

Mean!

When in Russia!!

Globally accepted practices

Greet in the local way or just say “Hello”

Shake hands (Wait for a woman to extend her hand first)

Wearing formal dress in the first business meeting

Smile

Did you

mean…?

Speak clearly

Clarify politely

Do not use slangs

Do not use idioms and

phrases

Do use simple language

Know that same word can

mean different things

Some

common hand

gestures

around the

world and

their

meanings!

Don’t forget

your

company’s

mission and

vision!