Key strategies for effective and respectful interactions across different cultures. Best practices for Ukrainian developers to communicate effectively in a multicultural team. Top things to know when working with LatAm clients & teams. Feedback matters: how to ask, give, and receive feedback across cultures. Tactics for overcoming language barriers and cultural misunderstandings.

2. How to nail any and every
conversation

3. Agenda
1. Key strategies for effective and respectful interactions across
different cultures.
2. Top things to know when working with LatAm, American,
Scandinavian, Asian clients & teams
3. Feedback matters: how to ask, give, and receive feedback across
cultures
4. Best practices for Ukrainian developers to communicate effectively
in a multicultural team.
5. Tactics for overcoming language barriers and cultural
misunderstandings.

4. Anna Gandrabura
1. EdTech entrepreneur with 15+ years of experience
2. Founder of english4it.online
3. Public speaker & social media influencer (550K @annglish_)
4. Leadership coach and motivational speaker

5. Effective cross-cultural
communication

6. What cultures have you worked with?

7. When communicating
cross-culturally, consider these:
Cultural affinity
1
2
3 Feedback
Leadership style

8. Cultural affinity

9. What cultural differences have you been observing
in the workplace or business setting?

11. Working with Americans

13. When Americans say … It means …
Awesome, fabulous, amazing Good
Great Fine
Fine, OK Bad
Not so great Very bad
I’m not sure No
Let’s get coffee sometime Goodbye; I like you
My friend A person I know

14. Tips on doing business in the USA
1. Punctuality is highly emphasized
2. Prior appointments are necessary
3. Business is done in a lightning speed
4. Competition is the rule of life
5. Small talk to begin the meeting
6. Compliments are exchanged very often
7. You are what you do
8. It’s a business cards world

15. Working with Latin American teams & clients

16. Tips on doing business in LatAm
1. Personal relationships are at value
2. Business culture is very hierarchical
3. Communication is indirect and high-context
4. The time is viewed more flexibly
5. Business extends beyond the office
6. It’s hard for them to say ‘no’ so they might start avoiding you
7. Recognize the diversity within LatAm

17. Leadership style

19. Tips on doing business in Scandinavian countries
1. Punctuality is highly emphasized
2. Equality and flat hierarchy
3. Directness & honesty (do not ‘sugarcoat’ bad news like in the USA)
4. Collaboration & teamwork are highly valued. Strive for consensus
5. Minimal small talk
6. Work-life balance
7. Smart-casual dress code

20. Feedback

21. Asking for, giving, and receiving feedback
properly across cultures

22. Quick grammar tip
Remember that “feedback” is uncountable
❌ a feedback ✅ feedback / a piece of feedback
❌ feedbacks ✅ feedback / pieces of feedback / some
feedback

24. In your opinion, what are some common mistakes
that people make when giving feedback?

25. Balance between positive & constructive feedback
● Positive feedback is a great thing. It helps you feel good about your work and
motivates you to do more.
● Constructive negative feedback helps people learn from their mistakes, grow
as employees, and improve on their areas of weakness.

26. ☝Adopt the mindset of the culture you are dealing with
❓Does this discussion resonate with you?
❓How do you let your coworkers know that you appreciate
their effort?

27. Tips on giving feedback in Asian countries
1. ‘Face’ & harmony are important
2. Choose the right setting. Avoid public embarrassment
3. Be indirect & tactful. Notice non-verbal cues
4. Focus on situation not the person
5. Encourse self-assessment: “How do you think that project went?
6. Practice the power of regular positive feedback
7. Share constructive suggestions on the next steps

28. Seek out feedback
Don’t wait for feedback, ask for it! This is essential for your personal and
professional growth.
Useful Phrases
Asking for feedback Thanking for feedback
I would really appreciate your input
I’m looking for ways to improve so your feedback is
really important
I could use some feedback (informal)
I will make a note of that for the future
I will keep this in mind going forward
I really appreciate your feedback!
Your feedback means the world! (informal)

29. Acknowledge feedback
Make sure you acknowledge feedback so the people know they’ve been heard.
Useful Phrases
Acknowledging positive feedback Acknowledging negative feedback
Awesome! Glad I could help.
It’s great to hear that (you found my tips useful).
Thanks for your kind words! It really means a lot.
I couldn’t have done this without your support!
Thank you for sharing how you feel about it.
I’ll be sure (not) to do that going forward.
Thanks for bringing it up. I’ll be sure to look into it and see
what we can do.
Appreciate you sharing.

30. Working on a
cross-cultural team

31. “We have two ears and one
mouth so that we can listen twice
as much as we speak.”
- Epictetus

32. Your tone of voice
Keep the following things in mind in order to communicate effectively across cultures.
📌 Persuasiveness
📌 Politeness
📌 Confidence
📌 Sincerity
📌 Positivity

33. Practice 1
Change the message so that is sounds more persuasive.
Quick and efficient delivery will be carried out by our trained personnel.

34. Practice 1
Suggested change:
Our trained personnel will carry out quick and efficient delivery.
✅ Use active voice to sound more persuasive

35. Practice 2
Change the message so that it sounds more confident.
We’ll need to review our KPIs. And update the bonus system too. Also, maybe
we should reimagine the format of our team meetings.

36. Practice 2
Change the message so that it sounds more confident.
We need to review out KPIs and update the bonus system. Also, it might be a
good idea to reimagine the format of our team meetings. Let me know your
thoughts on this!
✅ Avoid starting a new sentence with “and.”
✅ Include a call to action if you want to make impact

37. Practice 3
Change the message so that is sounds more polite.
You forgot to attach the link in the post.

38. Practice 3
Suggested change:
The post seems to be missing a link.
✅ Avoid “finger-pointing” statements.

39. Practice 4
Change the message so that is sounds more sincere.
Your recent ideas are amazing, however, we’ve decided that they don’t fit our
project.

40. Practice 4
Suggested change:
After brainstorming a number of ideas, we have decided to move in a different
direction.
✅ Avoid the tendency to hide or soften bad news. Instead, communicate the
message clearly but include a relevant buffer

41. Practice 5
Change the message so that is sounds more positive.
Please accept the contract by Thursday at midnight. If not, we will be too
busy to process your order, and it may not be completed.

42. Practice 5
Suggested change:
To guarantee delivery and top quality service, please accept the contract by
Thursday at midnight.
✅ Include phrases that are encouraging and enticing. Negative phrasing should
be avoided.

43. Overcoming language
barriers

44. How to improve your English:
📌 Practice bite-sized learning
📌 Practice daily
📌 Seek modern, relevant content
📌 Get curious
📌 Choose formats, content, apps that work best for your learning style
📌 Join English For IT course with 35% OFF: www.english4it.online

45. Useful resources
Kiss, Bow, or Shake Hands
The Culture Map
Coaching Across Cultures
Power Skills For Success Podcast
English For IT Blog
Global Negotiator
Power Skills For Tech

46. Let’s recap
What are your three takeaways?

47. Shoot your questions!
Q&A