© Prentice Hall, 2005 Excellence in Business Communication Chapter 3 - 1

Communicating Communicating InterculturallyInterculturally

© Prentice Hall, 2005 Excellence in Business Communication Chapter 3 - 2

Intercultural Intercultural CommunicationCommunication

• Global marketplace

• Multicultural workforce

© Prentice Hall, 2005 Excellence in Business Communication Chapter 3 - 3

Intercultural SensitivityIntercultural Sensitivity

• Culture

• Subculture

• Ethnocentrism

© Prentice Hall, 2005 Excellence in Business Communication Chapter 3 - 4

Cultural DifferencesCultural Differences

• Contextual

• Legal and ethical

• Social

• Nonverbal

© Prentice Hall, 2005 Excellence in Business Communication Chapter 3 - 5

Cultural ContextCultural Context

• High-context

• Low-context

– Decision-making practices

– Problem-solving techniques

– Negotiating styles

© Prentice Hall, 2005 Excellence in Business Communication Chapter 3 - 6

Legal and Ethical Legal and Ethical BehaviorBehavior

• Seek common ground

• Withhold judgment

• Send honest messages

• Respect cultural differences

© Prentice Hall, 2005 Excellence in Business Communication Chapter 3 - 7

Social DifferencesSocial Differences

• Materialism

• Roles

• Status

• Manners

• Time

© Prentice Hall, 2005 Excellence in Business Communication Chapter 3 - 8

Nonverbal Nonverbal CommunicationCommunication

• Personal space

• Body language

© Prentice Hall, 2005 Excellence in Business Communication Chapter 3 - 9

Overcome EthnocentrismOvercome Ethnocentrism

• Accept distinctions

• Avoid assumptions

• Avoid judgments

© Prentice Hall, 2005 Excellence in Business Communication Chapter 3 - 10

Communicating Across Communicating Across

CulturesCultures

• Study other cultures

• Overcome language barriers

• Develop communication skills

© Prentice Hall, 2005 Excellence in Business Communication Chapter 3 - 11

Study Other CulturesStudy Other Cultures

• Assume differences

• Take responsibility

• Withhold judgment

• Show respect

• Empathize

• Tolerate ambiguity

© Prentice Hall, 2005 Excellence in Business Communication Chapter 3 - 12

Study Other CulturesStudy Other Cultures

• Look past the superficial

• Be patient

• Be persistent

• Admit cultural biases

• Remain flexible

© Prentice Hall, 2005 Excellence in Business Communication Chapter 3 - 13

Study Other CulturesStudy Other Cultures

• Look for common ground

• Send clear messages

• Deal with the individual

• Learn when to be direct

• Test your understanding

© Prentice Hall, 2005 Excellence in Business Communication Chapter 3 - 14

ESL Communication ESL Communication BarriersBarriers

• Slang and idioms

• Accents and pronunciation

• Vocal variations

• Communication styles

© Prentice Hall, 2005 Excellence in Business Communication Chapter 3 - 15

Foreign Language Foreign Language BarriersBarriers

• Learn another language

• Use intermediaries or translators

• Offer training in English

© Prentice Hall, 2005 Excellence in Business Communication Chapter 3 - 16

Written CommunicationWritten Communication

• Use plain English

• Be clear

• Use proper

addresses

• Cite numbers

carefully

• Be brief

• Use transitions

• Avoid slang and

idioms

• Use short

paragraphs

© Prentice Hall, 2005 Excellence in Business Communication Chapter 3 - 17

Oral CommunicationOral Communication

• Minimize noise

• Obtain feedback

• Speak slowly

• Clarify intent

• Do not talk down

• Be accurate

© Prentice Hall, 2005 Excellence in Business Communication Chapter 3 - 18

Oral CommunicationOral Communication

• Learn foreign phrases

• Listen carefully

• Adapt your style

• Check for understanding

• Clarify the next step

• Watch body language