3. OUTLINE
1. “Start with Why”
Culture impacts how we make sense of/explain behavior
2. The What: Intercultural Communication
“The ability to communicate across cultural divides is a
key strategic leadership characteristic”
3. The How: Interaction Skills
Better interactions stem from better explanations
11. Questions Answered by
Intercultural Comm Research
• How does culture impact our
expectations of communication
behavior?
• Which communication skills are
best suited for meeting the
challenges associated with
intercultural interactions?
13. “Those who are
proficient in building
relationships with people
from other cultures
tend to be most
effective in other
cultures.”
14. Recommendations
• Attributional Complexity
• Create multiple explanations for behavior
• Increased communication resourcefulness
• “There may be more than one legitimate interpretation”
• Self-Other Overlap
• Ability to articulate points of commonality in conversation
• Mediator between perspective-taking and pro-social
outcomes
15. Key Enablers
Growth Mindset
• Curiosity
• Self-awareness
• Cultural humility
• Perspective-taking
“We had acquired the habit of looking at things two
different ways – from the Japanese angle of vision as well
as from our own national viewpoint. This proved to be the
key to my career and, extended worldwide, it is the only
hope I can see for world peace and human survival.”
16. Intercultural Communication
Hinges On:
• -Anticipating the impact of cultural values on
communication behavior
• -Creating multiple explanations for confusing
behavior
• -Practicing perspective-taking
17. Questions?
Lauren Mackenzie, Ph.D.
Professor of Military Cross-Cultural Competence
Center for Advanced Operational Culture Learning
Marine Corps University
Lauren.Mackenzie@usmcu.edu