2-1
2-2
Communicating
Communicating Across
Across
Cultures
Cultures
To learn how to
Continue to analyze your audiences.
Begin to adapt your message to
your audiences.
Begin to understand what your
organization wants.
2-3
Communicating
Communicating Across
Across
Cultures
Cultures
Start by answering these questions:
Who is my audience?
Why is audience so important?
What do I need to know about my
audience(s)?
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Communicating
Communicating Across
Across
Cultures
Cultures
Start by answering these questions:
Now that I have my analysis, what
do I do with it?
What if my audiences have different
needs?
How do I reach my audience(s)?
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Introduction
In any organization, you'll work with people whose
backgrounds differ from yours.
People often want easy answers about diversity and
culture when only guidelines are possible.
Many companies depend on vendors (=suppliers) or
operations in different countries
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Diversity
Diversity and
and Culture
Culture Basics
Basics
Diversity has always been with us—
even if people didn’t recognize it or its
value.
There is no “one-size-fits-all”
approach to working with cultural
differences.
Use the information in this module as
guidelines, not rules set in stone.
Remember that people are individuals as well
as members of groups.
Be open to change and difference.
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Diversity
Diversity in
in the
the Workplace
Workplace
Gender
Race and ethnicity
Regional and national origin
Social class
Religion
Age
Physical ability
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What
What is
is "culture"?
"culture"?
Culture is patterns of acceptable behavior and
belief.
We may not be aware of the most basic features of
our own culture until we come into contact with
people who do things differently.
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We can categorize cultures as
high-context
low-context.
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Diversity
Diversity in
in the
the Workplace
Workplace
High-Context Cultures
Most information is
inferred from the context
of a message.
Little is “spelled out.”
Examples: Japanese,
Arabic, and Latin
American cultures.
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Diversity
Diversity in
in the
the Workplace
Workplace
continued
continued
Low-Context Cultures
Context is less
important than words.
Most information is
spelled out; words are
privileged
Examples: German,
Scandinavian, and
dominant U.S. cultures.
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How
How does
does culture
culture affect
affect
business
business communication?
communication?
Culture influences every single aspect of business
communication:
how to show politeness and respect,
how much information to give,
how to motivate people,
how loud to talk,
even what size paper to use.
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How
How does
does culture
culture affect
affect
business
business communication?
communication?
Business communication is influenced
by
•national culture,
•the organizational culture (system, rules,
how to behave, dress act and perform job) and
by
•personal culture (gender, race and ethnicity,
social class)
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There
There are
are so
so many
many different
different cultures!
cultures!
How
How can
can II know
know enough
enough toto communicate?
communicate?
Focus on being sensitive and flexible.
The first step in understanding another culture is to
realize that it may do things very differently, and that
the difference is not bad or inferior.
people within a single culture differ.
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Communicating
Communicating with
with Different
Different
Cultures
Cultures
Brenda Arbaleez suggests being
Aware that values and behaviors
are influenced by culture.
Flexible.
Sensitive.
Aware of the others’ values, beliefs,
and practices.
Sensitive to differences among
individuals.
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How
How can
can II make
make mymy documents
documents
bias-free?
bias-free?
Start by using non-sexist, non-racist, and non-agist
language.
Bias-free language is language that does not
discriminate (phan biet doi xu) against people on the
basis of sex, physical condition, race, age, or any other
category.
Avoid terms that assume that everyone is married or
is heterosexual.
Biased: You and your husband or wife are cordially
invited to the dinner.
Better: You and your guest are cordially invited to the
dinner.
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Ways
Ways to
to Make
Make Language
Language
Nonsexist
Nonsexist
Use
Words that treat both
sexes respectfully.
Titles that do not imply
one sex “ought” to do a
certain job.
The appropriate gender
pronoun when referring
to a specific person.
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2-20
Ways
Ways to
to Make
Make Language
Language
Nonracist
Nonracist
Eliminate adjectives that reinforce
negative stereotypes.
Biased: The motivated black students
were assigned to internship positions
throughout the company.
Bias-free: The students were assigned to
internship positions throughout the
company.
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Ways
Ways to
to Make
Make Language
Language
Nonagist
Nonagist
Refer to age only if it’s truly
relevant.
Biased: Tomoko Watanabe, 67, is
president of Competitive Data
Management.
Bias-free: Tomoko Watanabe is
president of Competitive Data
Management.
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Assignment for Module 3
Assume that you’re going to the capital city of
another country on business two months from now,
(you pick the country).
Use a search engine to find out!
What holidays will be celebrated in that month.
What the climate will be.
What current events are in the news.
What key features of business etiquette you should
know.
What kinds of gifts you should bring to your hosts.
What sightseeing you should try to include.
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End of Module 3