CROSS-CULTURE COMMUNICATION By VENKATESAN.T

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

“ The reasonable person adapts himself to the world, while the unreasonable one persists 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 .

Four Fundamental Patterns of Cultural Difference What is different? Communication Styles Attitudes toward conflicts Decision making style Approaches to knowing

Communication Styles

Attitudes toward conflicts

Decision making style

Approaches to knowing

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.

Why Cross Culture Communication is important ? Globalization: Cross border movement of people, goods and data brings more and more cultures into contact with one another and increases the potential of cross culture communication. Business Opportunities Job Opportunities Improves the contribution of employees in a diverse workforce Sharing of views and ideas Talent improvisation An understanding of diverse market

Business Opportunities

Job Opportunities

Improves the contribution of employees in a diverse workforce

Sharing of views and ideas

Talent improvisation

An understanding of diverse market

High 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.

Cont… 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.

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.

Gesture: A motion of the hands, head or body to emphasize an idea or emotion. USA=OK JAPAN=MONEY RUSSIA=ZERO BRAZIL=INSULT

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

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 Communication Slow Down Separate Questions Avoid Negative Questions Take Turns Write it down Be Supportive Check Meanings Avoid Slangs Watch the humor Maintain Etiquette

Slow Down

Separate Questions

Avoid Negative Questions

Take Turns

Write it down

Be Supportive

Check Meanings

Avoid Slangs

Watch the humor

Maintain 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

Respecting Differences and Working Together

Building Trust Across Cultural Boundaries

Understanding Body Language

Connecting with people

Business is not a one day match 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.