Global

Cross-Cultural Communication (Part 3)

Okay, this wraps up a 3-part series on cross-cultural communication (for now)! Here are more quick tips to improve and check yourself on how you are building bridges every day across cultures.

Send me your feedback! What have you experienced when it comes to this topic? What have I missed? What has been helpful?

  1. Avoid idioms and jargon. Create a list of idioms, humor, and “secret language” that your team may use that would be confusing to someone who didn’t grow up in your culture. For example, “We hit it out of the park!” will not make sense to someone who has not grown up in a baseball culture. Host a discussion with your team to help others be more aware of how language choices are an important aspect of increasing inclusiveness and clear communication between all.

  2. Do not assume. We cannot assume everyone from a certain culture or background will act the same way, and if we make this assumption, we will end up damaging relationships, undermining our own credibility, and being seen as ignorant in the workplace. Do your research when you are in doubt, listen more than you speak, ask open-ended and non-personal questions to allow the other person to drive the conversation, and keep an open-mind when you hear their response.

  3. Do your research to gain some basic insights into another culture (but don’t think it makes you an expert!). Read a novel by an author from that country. Visit a place of worship. Attend a cultural event. Accept an invitation if a colleague invites you to their family dinner or event.

  4. Listen and remember. If someone does decide to share more about their identify with you, keep an open-mind, practice active listening and remember what they say so that you can build on the trust that you are forming.

  • If they share words from their language with you, learn how to pronounce these correctly and use them in conversations if you think it is appropriate. If you aren’t sure, ask them!

  • If they share current events with you, keep an open-mind, ask open-ended questions and research some of these events in your own time. Follow-up with them, particularly about positive current events, if they appear to be excited to speak more about these.

  • If they tell you about a holiday or celebration of theirs, do some research to learn more, mark it on your calendar, and ask them about it if they are willing to share.

5. Avoid creating “cultural burden”. Don’t expect that someone else needs to teach you about their culture - this is what I call “cultural burden”. Take it on yourself to research, make the effort, and ask questions when it seems appropriate. But if you don’t get the response you were hoping for - don’t blame that person. They have their own lives and burdens to worry about. Once you can remove a sense of expectation or entitlement from the reason why you want to learn more, things will become much easier to form natural bonds.

6. Be aware of time zones. Who is the one having to wake up early or get on a call late? Typically it is the folks who aren’t at the headquarters. Create a rotating meeting schedule and share the burden of joining calls outside of work hours.

7. Be patient. Building trust takes time, months, years, decades, even. There will be ups and downs, success and failure, just as we experience with any relationship. Keep this in mind and remember to:

  • Show humility

  • Apologize when you make a mistake

  • Move forward with the best intentions for the group, not just you.

Check out this article on nuances in body language cues across cultures.

and it's 2020!

I've been slacking on the blog, but I’m back!

I've been slacking on the blog, but I’m back!

I’m going to make this short and this isn’t going to be some New Year’s Resolution thing - or is it??

This is a confession - I have been slacking on keeping up this Leadership Blog!!

Perhaps drinking too much wine in Stockholm and Copenhagen 🤷‍♀️ + [wine emoji please]

We all have been slacking on something (or many things) in 2019 - and there is no shame in this. I am owning it and going to start a new.

So picking up where I left off - I had a 3-Part Series on Cross-Cultural Communication that I had been planning to launch back in September.

Here is Part 2 of 3 - Please enjoy!

Yours truly,

Mary


Awareness about Individualistic & Collectivistic Culture Can Help Us at Work!

Check out www.unsplash.com for beautiful and non-copyright images! This is in Pamplona, Spain

Check out www.unsplash.com for beautiful and non-copyright images! This is in Pamplona, Spain

Two big words, but once you know them, it can be so powerful to how you view the world, yourself and others!

Please note that “always” doesn’t live here, and these are ideas to think about, but does not mean that everyone acts or behaves in a certain way.

Never make assumptions and instead ASK OPEN-ENDED QUESTIONS to learn more about someone else, their perspectives, views, and beliefs. Even when you think you know, ask another question!


Individualistic

Collectivistic

Typically associated with western cultures.

Typically associated with eastern cultures.


Test yourself:

Fill in this blank, “I am _____________________.”

In the United States, most of us think with “I” as the center of why we do things.  And if you are from an individualistic culture, you may have been more likely to answer with a trait or characteristic that describes you.

If you are from a collectivistic culture, you may have answered with a reference to a group or relationship that you are part of.

“I am goal-oriented/tall/34 years old”

vs.

“I am with XYZ company/Muslim/one of four siblings”

Can you see how these different perspectives could misunderstand each other at work?

  • When thinking about work relationships individualists and collectivists may take very different perspectives on developing relationships.

Collectivists:

  • We are interdependent on each other

  • Relationships aren’t voluntary and may even be obligatory

  • Relationships are stable and permanent

  • Do not want to burden others with their stress and problems and may be less likely to ask for support and help

  • Seek out time to spend with those they trust deeply, without mentioning their stress or problems

Individualists:

  • View relationships as voluntary

  • Perceive that they have a choice to create or end a relationships

  • If something isn’t working, they can be more likely to walk away or end a relationship

  • Are generally comfortable sharing information, stressors, and issues with others

  • Expect that others will freely share information with them

  • Are generally okay asking for support from others

How does this show up at work for you?

Share your comments down below!

AND…If you want to learn more about these nuances check out this article!