What is Intercultural Business
Communication?
Introduction
The
ability
to
communicate,
negotiate
Cultures?
There is no one “right” culture and because of this it
shouldn’t be expected for one culture to completely
and
conform
to
another.
International
Business
is
effectively work with people from other cultures is
expanding. Many companies are going global.
vital
Intercultural
Recruitment, sales, management, marketing and
communication looks at how people from different
workplace environment are all affected by cultures
cultures understand one another and work together
within your organization. It is important to note that a
efficiently.
company does not need to be international to have
to
international
Being
communicator
an
involves
business.
ideal
learning
intercultural
the
norms,
different cultures within it. Any organization with
customs, values and beliefs of another culture,
employees from diverse religions, languages or
being able to recognize how these are portrayed
nationality brings different cultures to a company.
through both verbal and nonverbal communication
Misunderstandings can occur when employees are
and successfully incorporate this information into
not knowledgeable on intercultural communication.
your own communication.
These
What is Communication?
misunderstandings
can
result
in
poor
employee moral, low retention, and low company
Communication can be defined as the process of
receiving, interpreting and responding to messages.
cohesion.
How to Learn About Other Cultures?
Communication is both verbal and nonverbal.
It’s easy to learn about other cultures, many
Being able to effectively communicate is a highly
resources are available online as well as in text. Be
regarded skill in business. When speakers come
careful to only use credible sources and ignore
from
stereotypes. A stereotype is based on little evidence
different
cultures,
they
must
work
to
successfully communicate with one another.
What is Culture?
is an incorrect statement about a group of people. Is
better to use generalizations, which are based on
Culture is learned behavior patterns, which are
research and observations of people by professionals.
mutually agreed upon by a group of people. Having a
Generalizations give a fairly accurate depiction of a
set culture allows everyday behaviors progress
culture. It’s important to remember a person is not just
without needing to questions every interaction.
his/her culture and to use generalizations as a starting
Manners, traditions and customs are understood and
point towards effective communication.
accepted. Greetings, etiquette, and gender roles,
differ in various cultures. It is necessary to understand
these norms during business interactions.
Why is it Important to Understand Other
Why You Hate Your British or
American Business Partner
partner closes doors, damps enthusiasm, burns bridges
and may damage or even destroy relationships. Thus,
Is what you say what you mean, or is what you don't say
they prefer to use euphemisms, a word which comes
what you mean? In seminars and by coaching, my partner
from the Greek, "to speak favorably." Essentially, this
Nick Parry and I spend a lot of time explaining to our direct
means replacing negative phrases with something more
language business clients -- Germans, Swiss Germans,
positive. So, "Waiter, my meal is cold" becomes, "Waiter,
Austrians and Scandinavians -- why they hate us. It's
my meal is not very warm." In the first example, the
simple: we don't say what we mean. And we mean what we
waiter would feel attacked. When we are attacked we
don't say. We like to leave the interpretation of what we are
have two choices: strike back or defend ourselves. This,
saying to the listener. This coded speech, described as
in turn, would result in the waiter saying something like,
"beating around the bush," being "woolly," vague or indirect
"Well, it was damn well warm when I brought it" -- which
always has a deeper second meaning, which unless asked
is a perfectly true statement that could create a perfectly
about will be interpreted as being clearly communicated by
destructive conflict that could destroy a business
the person communicating. This drives literal, direct
relationship.
language people -- for whom "yes" means "yes" and "no"
means "no" -- crazy.
In the second example, however, the waiter would not
Coded speech can take different forms, including humor
feel attacked and would be able to apologize and reheat
(often called sarcasm if you are on the receiving end),
the food. Moreover, to "help" the waiter save face, he is
euphemism or understatement.
often pre-warned about the forthcoming bad news by the
person adding the phrase "I'm afraid that..." To direct
Some examples include --
language people, this could sound as weak, insincere or
Communicated is: ........ Meant is:
even untruthful. To indirect language people, however, it
Correct me if I'm wrong ........ I'm right
is a vital means to preserve a relationship by not
I agree with you up to a point ........ I disagree
"hurting" the other party.
I hear what you're saying ........ I disagree
I'll give you a call ........ I won't call
Understatement is a specialty of the British but is shared
I'll get back to you on it ........ No
by the Chinese, Swedish, Japanese, Canadians and
Hmm... interesting idea ........ Forget it
many U.S. Americans. It is used to increase the effect of
I'll do that ASAP ........ The hell I will
a statement or to indicate modesty, but when it isn't
recognized it can lead to great confusion.
Why do Anglos (and most other indirect language
Thus,
peoples) do this? Essentially, because they believe that
Communicated is: ........ Meant is:
using direct language or saying "no!" to a business
I've seen worse presentations ........ It was great
I'm pretty much a beginner ........ I'm quite good
References:
I've got a bit of a problem ........ Disaster!
O’Brien Browne, 2012, Why You You’re your British or
I'm doing pretty good ........ I'm suicidal
American Business Partner, Huffpost Business, Aug 26,
I have a couple of issues here ........ We have major
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/obrien-browne/why-you-hate-yo
problems
ur-british_b_1622416.html, Oct 26 2015
Anglos and other indirect language cultures expect
Sarah Griffth, 2011, What is Intercultural Business
their counterparts to be able to "read" the signals
Communication?, HubPages, March 8,
behind the words: gestures, body language and facial
http://sarahgriffith.hubpages.com/hub/What-is-Intercultural-Bus
expressions -- which means that relying on e-mail to
iness-Communication, Oct 26 2015
solve misunderstandings is deadly. But because direct
language cultures believe that what you say is what
you mean, they focus on words, not non-verbal signals.
The trouble is that their Anglo, Asian, Latino, Arab,
Indian and several billion other business partners
signal what they mean; they won't say it. This subtle
difference can cause project delays, postponements,
misunderstandings and conflicts that may wreck
international partnerships in business, politics and
academia -- and all because what is unsaid is of
greater importance than what is said.