This document discusses intercultural communication and its importance. It notes that intercultural communication occurs between people from different cultures and is increasing due to globalization. Effective intercultural communication is important for business leaders to develop caring, responsible leadership. Cultural differences can occur along dimensions such as contexts, face-saving, individualism, time perception, power distribution, and decision-making. Developing cultural awareness, listening skills, and avoiding stereotypes can help improve intercultural communication.

1. “…one of the world’s most significant problems:
intercultural relations…”
Edward T. Hall

2. 1. The Nature of Intercultural Communication
2. Dominant Cultural Orientations
3. Domains of Cultural Differences
4. Steps Towards Effective Communication

4. Intercultural communication is:
communication between at least two people
from different cultures.

5.  Increasing interaction between people due to
globalization
 Increasing diversity in workplaces
 Increasing need to develop caring, responsible and
ethical business leaders

8.  National cultures
 Social groups
 Ethnic groups
 Genders
 Age or generational
groups
(and more…)

9.  If intercultural communication is
communication between at least two people
from different cultures…
◦ ALL communication between people is essentially
intercultural.
◦ Different types of cultures shape communication.
◦ Caring, responsible and ethical business leaders must
be effective intercultural communicators.

11. 1. How contexting affects communication

12. 2) How face-saving affects communication

13. 3) How the individual is viewed in relation to the
group

14. 4) How time is perceived

15. 5) How power is distributed

16. 6) How decisions are made

17. Reminder: cultural orientations are NOT
dichotomies; they are tendencies.

19.  Choice of words
 Organization of messages

20.  Body language
 Eye contact
 Laughter  Touch
 Tone, volume and
speed
 Turn-taking and
silence

21. PART IV
STEP TOWARDS EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION

22.  Develop a sense of cultural awareness
 Do not be ethnocentric
 Listen genuinely when others speak

23.  Do not lapse into your own language while in the
presence of others who do not speak it
 Take responsibility for the communication (e.g., if
miscommunication happens, it is not always the other person’s fault)
 DO NOT STEREOTYPE

24. Intercultural communication:
 respects people as part of a group AND as
individuals.
 is not about interaction between national cultures
only.

25. Intercultural competence:
 helps you deliver your messages clearly,
appropriately and persuasively.
 enables you, as a business leader, to contribute
to
a just and equitable world.

26. THANK YOU!
Q & A