This document discusses cross-cultural communication and its importance in business. It begins by defining culture and discussing different cultural classifications. It then defines cross-cultural communication as relating to, nurturing, and enhancing relationships with people from different cultures. Good cross-cultural training provides knowledge, understanding, and skills to communicate across cultural barriers. The document emphasizes understanding and adapting to different cultures to avoid miscommunication and build strong business relationships globally.

1. Cross Cultural Communication
Building Stronger Businesses Across Boundaries
BABU P GEORGE

2. 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?”

3. What is culture?
Culture is defined by your :
 Race
 Ethnicity
 Gender
 Class
 Religion
 Language
 Country of origin
 Geographic region

4. 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)
Based on study done by Geert
Hofstede in 1967-1973
 Indulgence vs Restraint (Based on latest survey by Michael Minkov, 2010)

5. Cross Cultural Communication
CCC relates to-
 Framing
 Nurturing
 Enhancing
relationship with people who belong to
different culture than yours.
A good cross cultural training will ensure empowers
a person with:
 Knowledge
 Understanding
 & skills
he needs to communicate and cooperate
effectively across cultural barriers

6. 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”

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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)

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. What
Brits
Mean!

14. When in Russia!!

15. 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

16. 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

17. Some
common hand
gestures
around the
world and
their
meanings!

18. Don’t forget
your
company’s
mission and
vision!