Communicating Across Cultures

Daughters of St. Paul

Sister Margaret Charles Kerry FSP

Basics• Be sensitive to language preference: for many

English is a foreign language and difficult.– Don’t confuse mastering conversational English with

basic studies in reading and writing. Many people can read languages at a basic level but are terrified of speaking the language.

– Choose the appropriate communication pace and vocabulary to make your acquaintance comfortable.

– Try to avoid slang and regional dialect. – Do not pursue topic overload in a conversation.– It does not matter what you say, it matters what the

other person hears. Enunciate and slow your speech.– Prepare graphics/hand-outs to accompany the

speech or text.

Basics cont.– Use short sentences and repeat key facts/sentences

to help the listener register key points.– Intermittently confirm that the listener understands

key points.– Use formal language because others culture may

tend to more formality than in the USA.– Remember the Chevy Nova lesson: try to avoid

words which have different meanings in other cultures (Nova = No Go.. Many cultures keep binders on all sent and received email messages, faxes and correspondence: be aware that there may not be casual correspondence.

Basics cont.– Not all countries have the same telecommunications

infrastructure or computer capabilities.• Discuss during the official meeting the best way to

communicate when not face to face.

– Ascertain the informal and formal communication paths and structure of the cross cultural audience groups.

• A common mistake is talking to the wrong person who may not feel empowered to negotiate or to pass along the message.

– Know what is truly confidential discussion and not. Just because you off-handedly say “please keep it to yourself” is not binding.

• Sometimes it takes years to develop a confidential friend relationship with someone in another culture. Sometimes it is not possible within a culture which makes decisions only in a group.

Basics cont.– As has been reported many times about meetings

between Western and Eastern cultures, because of different motivations and cultural priorities, two groups can engage in the same conversation and walk away with completely different understandings because of different priorities assigned to different elements discussed.

– When negotiating contractually, with some cultures do not be placed in the position of waiting to last minutes to make key decisions because this is classic negotiation ploy

• Including waiting until a person has to take a return flight to hammer out details in the car at the airport terminal. When an issue is important, send the right signal by calling to reschedule the flight in front of your other cultural negotiation partner to signal that there is no rush for you.

Basics cont.– Some cultures expect negotiation as in the

middle east where negotiation is the fun of doing business.

• Do not fear the back and forth of word play and negotiation with another culture.

• Research this important aspect of communication before engaging the other culture in such dialogue.

– Expression of affection as communication• Certain cultures hug and kiss while other are

uncomfortable doing so.• As we know in Italy, Italian men use the word

“Love” in letters and emails to male friends.

– Notice during meetings these differences.

Basics cont.– Eating is part of communication

• Some cultures do not relax and form bonds of friendship until the dinner activity.

• If invited to dinner even after a long day of meetings, go and participate. While the business talk may not end and while you may be pressed on issues in a formal manner, these social food events are very important to many cultures.

• For certain cultures, domestic types of food might be hard to digest or disliked for various reasons. Before a dinner outing is published, informally ask the other culture about food likes and dislikes to gage what environment would be amenable to friendship and laughter.

Basics cont.– Thank in writing after meetings and social

gatherings participants.• Many cultures expect formal acknowledgement of

past meetings.

– When major milestones with other cultural groups are achieved

• Know when in a culture to honor the team vs an individual.

• Know when to honor executive management for the team.

– In some cultures documents are prepared for the sold signature of executives. Personal ownership of work is not always the case in other countries.

– Celebrate joint achievements with ceremonies as a multicultural family.