Intercultural Communication Competence
In a 250-300 word response, critically examine your personal level of intercultural communication
competence. Is it important for you to achieve a certain level of intercultural communication
competence? Would enhanced intercultural communication competence help you personally?
Professionally? Academically? Include examples in your submission and use at least one resource to
support your key points. Respond to at least two of your fellow students' posts.
Intercultural business communication requires an understanding of --and adaptation to-cultural nuances and differences (Baack, 2012). The globalization of business has produced a
work environment with associates from diverse cultures. Employees need to become proficient
in communicating with individuals across the world. Cultural differences come in many
forms. One group may have concerns with men and women working together; another group
may be more concerned with looking at business relationships in the long term versus the short
term (Baack, 2012).
I would rate my own intercultural communication competence low. Exposure to various
cultures is common in the medical field, however, training in this area has centered more on
avoiding issues rather than learning how to effectively communicate. I have interacted with
patients from the Middle East, South America, and Africa. My primary purpose was to teach a
type of therapy. Interpreters are helpful to translate the information, but I have never considered
what greetings are appropriate or if direct eye contact was insulting. I have noticed that if the
individual can speak English, I have a tendency to interact differently. It is as if knowing
English negates the cultural differences.
My interactions with coworkers and administrators would be greatly enhanced through
improving my intercultural communication. I work with physicians from many different
countries. Choice of words and personal space are two areas that immediately come to mind as
possible barriers to communication. I have had encounters that resulted in annoyed responses
and left me feeling that I was rather insignificant. Perhaps knowing more about how a particular
culture responds to women may help me choose a different way of approaching a conversation.
I will be able to appreciate different points of view from other students by recognizing
their cultural backgrounds. Online classrooms are a greater challenge since interactions are
limited to words alone. Cultural identification is more difficult. Facial expressions and body
language are strong cues to recognizing if your words or actions are uncomfortable for those
receiving your message.
References
Baack, D. (2012). Managerial communication. San Diego, CA: Bridgeport Education, Inc.