Global Mindset and Linguistic Adaptation Across Cultures

Linguistic accommodation & style switching‘What  is  crucial  in  global  communica2on  is  adaptability  -­‐  as  a  speaker  to  change  the  way  to  speak  so  that  it  is  easier  for  the  listener  to  understand  and  as  a  listener  to  be  open  and  flexible’.

(Heather  Hansen,  TEDxOdense,  2018)

Linguistic accommodation & style switchingformal             informaldistanced             personalprecise             vaguecomplex             simple/straighMorwarddirect               indirectemo2onal             neutralasser2ve             encouragingtask-­‐oriented           rela2onship-­‐oriented

                 (Brieger,  2001)

Linguistic accommodation & style switchingA  six-­‐dimensional  approach:

• directness• enthusiasm• formality

• asser2veness  • self-­‐promo2on  (modest  vs  self-­‐effacing)  

• personal  disclosure  (open  vs  reserved)                 (Molinsky,  2013)

Linguistic accommodation & style switchingStyles  of  Verbal  Communica2on:  

• Anglo  –Saxon    • Asian• La2n

        (Trompenaars  &  Hampden-­‐Turner,  2012)

Low-context vs high-context communication• Low  context  (direct):  the  meaning  is  oZen  carried  by  what  is  said  and  the  message  is  more  explicit

• High  context  (indirect):  the  message  is  more  implicit  and  might  require  the  recipient  to  read  between  the  lines

Low-context vs high-context communicationChia:  This  is  great.  You  can  see  so  clearly  at  a  glance  who’s  on  duty  on  each  day.  And,  look,  that  Tuesday  is  the  day  my  best  friend  is  ge]ng  married!  

Manager:  Great.

Chia:  They‘ve  been  planning  this  wedding  for  years  and  they’re  finally  ge]ng  married  here  in  London.  

Manager:  You  must  be  so  happy  for  them.

(Chia  Suan  Chong,  2018:  84)

Low-context vs high-context communication

                  Meyer  (2014)

Global Dexterity – Andy MolinskyThe  ability  to  adapt  your  behaviour  smoothly  and  successfully  to  the  demands  of  a  foreign  culture,  without  losing  yourself  in  the  process  (Molinsky,  2014:  2)  

Global Dexterity – cultural adaptationTools  to  adapt  behavior  in  any  situa2on  you  face:

Diagnose  cultural  code  and  personal  challenges      

Customize  behaviour

Integrate  what  you  have  learned

Diagnosis:• Learning  new  cultural  rules  (cultural  code)• 6  rules  (dimensions)  represent  differences  in  communica2on  styles:  

Directness How  straighMorward?

Enthusiasm How  emo2onal?

Formality How  formal?

Asser2veness How  forthright?

Self-­‐promo2on How  comfortable  speaking  about  self-­‐achievement?

Personal  disclosure How  open  in  discussing  personal  life?

The zones of appropriateness and personal comfort

The zones of appropriateness and personal comfort (gap)

                 

The zones of appropriateness and personal comfort (overlap)

CustomizationMaintain  personal  integrity  

and  effec2veness  (put  your  own  spin)

Make your behaviour more acceptable• Make  small  but  meaningful  adjustments  

• Relate  it  to  your  personal  goals• Relate  it  to  your  personal  values• Relate  it  to  your  cultural  values

Customization: personal goals

Focus  on  a  worthy  goal

Customization: personal values

See  the  assignment  through  the  lens  of  personal  values

Customization: cultural values

          We  all  have  mul2ple  values.  

          Find  consistency  with  one  of  them.

The Lewis model

Common cultural traits

The Lewis model by cultures

Poles: multi-active and linear-active hybrid• Once  s2ll  another  2me  dynamic  

                                   (Malota,  2017)

Polish cultural profile

• Duality  of  thinking  and  behaviour• Geographically  in  the  middle

• Linear  and  mul2-­‐ac2ve    

Hybrid, flexible and ready to adapt• Friendly  and/or  indifferent?• Open  and/or  intolerant?• Direct  and/or  indirect  in  communica2on?

• Egalitarian  and/or  hierarchical?• Formal  and/or  informal?  

Polish communication style• Low-­‐context  and  high-­‐context• Maier-­‐of-­‐fact,  pragma2c,  wordy  and  sen2mental• OZen  requiring  the  listener  to  read  between  the  lines• Marked  by  ambiguity• Formal  in  the  use  of  2tles  and  politeness• High-­‐spirited  in  private  conversa2ons• More  reserved  in  public                             (www.crossculture.com)

References:Brieger,  N.  (2001)  Wri$ng.  Collins  English  for  Business.  HarperCollins  Publishers:  London.

Chong,  C.S  (2018)  Successful  Interna$onal  Communica$on.  Understand  and  Enhance  Your  Comunica$on  Skills.  Pavilion  Publishing.  East  Sussex.

Hansen,  H.  (2018)  Two  Billion  Voices.  How  to  Speak  Bad  English  Perfectly.  TEDxOdense

Lewis.  D.  L.  hip/crossculture.com  

Lewis.  D.  L.  (2006)  When  Cultures  Collide.  Leading  Across  Cultures.  Nicholas  Brealey  Interna2onal:  London

Malota,  W.  (2017)  Decoding  Polish  Nego$a$on  Style:  Workshop.  hIp://crossculturemanagement.com/workshop-­‐decoding-­‐polish-­‐nego$a$on-­‐style/

Meyer  E.  (2014).  The  Culture  Map.  Breaking  Through  the  Invisible  Boundaries  of  Global  Business.  Public  Affairs:  New  York.

Molinsky,  A.  (2014)  Global  Dexterity  :  hIps://www.slideshare.net/Intead/drandy-­‐molinsky-­‐global-­‐dexterity

Molinsky,  A.  (2013)  Global  Dexterity.  How  to  Adapt  Your  Behaviour  Across  Cultures  Without  Losing  Yourself  in  the  Process.  Harvard  Business  Review  Press.  Boston.

Con2nuum:  London

Trompenaars,  F.  &  Hampden-­‐Turner,  C.  (2012)  Riding  the  Waves  of  Culture.  Understanding  Diversity  in  Global  Business.  Third  Edi$on,  Nicholas  Brealey  Publishing:  London.