Cross-Cultural Communication
Introduction
"People fail to get along because they fear each other; they fear each other because they don’t know each other; they don’t know each other because they have not communicated with each other."
Martin Luther King
You step into a new "world" once you leave your home country and move into an assignment in a new cultural environment. Some executives do not survive. This happens only because they have not developed their cultural sensitivity. Everything is either too "foreign" and non-understandable - or they only are able to view the new cultures through their own culturally biased lenses.
That’s a shame, because the future of the world depends upon our ability to communicate effectively across cultures. To be fit in the 21st century, individuals and companies must incorporate cultural awareness and sensitivity into their relations, strategies and structures. This involves having a sense of openness, respect and a tolerance for ambiguity. You need to understand the other person, the cultural context you are operating in and how the person is likely to respond within the context. Culture is the foundation of communication, and communication transmits culture. Cross-cultural communication is now considered an essential corporate competency.
While there have been countless faux pas, mistakes and stories ranging from the humorous to the embarrassing to the intimidating, working with people from other cultures enriches, enhances and engages our entire self. It is well worth the journey!
Objectives
-
Participants will:
- Understand elements of cultural awareness
- Review levels, layers and circles of culture
- Examine cultural variables and cultural value dimensions
- Explore the communication process across cultures
- Practice cross-cultural communication effectiveness
Course Outline
- 9:00-10:30
Your Culture, Your Story
Our commonalities and our differences
What is culture?
What is your story?
Levels, layers and circles of culture
Measurement of value- 10:30-10:45
- Morning Tea Break
- 10:45-12:30
Developing Cultural Sensitivity
Cross-cultural sensitivity as core competency
Habits and their control of our perceptions
Self-defeating cultural attitudes
Cultural blind spots
Cultural adaptability
Cultural variables:
Attitudes, language and thought patterns
Nonverbal behaviour
Orientation to time and space
Food, religion and living preferences- 12:30-1:30
- Lunch
- 1:30-3:15
Intercultural Communication Effectiveness
Proxemics, handshakes and building rapport
Skills for the cross-cultural communicator
Working with a global team- 3:15-3:30
- Afternoon Tea Break
- 3:30-5:00
Cultural Value Dimensions
Cultural values review
The communication process across cultures
Cultural value dimensions
Working with a global team revisited
Review and wrap-up