Ten commandments of intercultural communication

Posted on April 05, 2024 by Martin Hahn, One of Thousands of Career Coaches on Noomii.

The lines of business which were once clearly marked are now more of a blur. Lately, companies around the world are hopping national borders to conduct business on a regular basis. Do not be surprised that some day you will join an organization where you will met and work with people coming from different national, religious, and ethnic backgrounds. Communicating across language and cultural barriers can be a difficult task. Thanks to globalization you do not have to leave your own country in order to come into contact with people from a variety of backgrounds. These people with different backgrounds will work within your company, industry, and community.

Communicating with people from other cultures can be challenging. However, your success in business and career will be determined by your ability to communicate effectively with people coming from different cultures. To overcome cultural barriers, there has to be a means of effective communication. First, you must learn what culture actually means. Culture is a shared system of symbols, beliefs, attitudes, values, expectations, and norms for behavior. Subcultures, in turn, are distinct groups that exist within a major culture.

TEN COMMANDMENTS OF INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION

1. Watch for different social values. As a general consensus, people in many western countries assume that people from other cultures also disapprove of poverty and value hard work. In fact, many societies condemn materialism, while others tolerate a more carefree lifestyle.

2. Watch for different roles and status symbols and how to demonstrate them. Culture determines the roles people play. Culture determines who communicates with whom, what is being communicated, and in the ways of communication. In many countries, women do not play a prominent role in business. Consequently, female executives who visit these countries may find that they are not taken serious in business dealings. Another difference is concepts of status. It is common in many Western countries to see executives use certain status signals to reflect materialistic values. In the West, a big boss has a large corner office, deep carpets, an expensive desk, and handsome accessories. However, in the Middle East, fine possessions can be found in private homes while business is conducted in modest and often cramped quarters.

3. Watch for decision making customs. Western people like to make decisions quickly and efficiently. The opposite customs can be found in Greece. A Greek executive perceives a person who ignores the details as being evasive and untrustworthy. This goes to show you that research is necessary before attempting a business transaction in a country other than your own.

4. Watch for concepts of time. In many western countries, time is money. In the perception of many Westerners, time is used to plan the business day efficiently. All tasks will be executed in a separate scheduled time. In many Latin American and Asian countries, meeting deadlines is not as important as building a good long-term business relationship.

5. Watch for personal space. Do not assume that the ‘comfort zone’ in your own culture is the same as in other cultures. Canadian and US business persons would like to have a comfortable conversation by standing about five feet apart. An uncomfortably close distance for people from Germany or Japan. Arabs or Latin Americans will consider this distance as uncomfortably far.

6. Watch for cultural context. People from the USA (called ‘low-context cultures’) rely heavily on verbal communication. Implied meaning and circumstances are considered unimportant. People from South Korea and Taiwan (‘high-context cultures’) rely less on verbal communication and more on the context of nonverbal actions and environmental settings to convey meaning.

7. Watch for body language. All different cultures have different body languages. People in the United States and Canada show agreement by shaking their heads back and forth; people in Bulgaria nod up and down; people in Japan move their right hands; people in Sicily raise their chins. Show your awareness by using the correct body language and this can only be done after you have learned the basic differences in the way people supplement their words with body language.

8. Watch for different etiquette; rules or manners. What is perceived to be polite in one culture may be perceived to be rude in another culture. For example, in Arab countries it is improper to offer gifts to a man’s wife. The proper way is to offer his children gifts. These cultural rules should be studied before attempting a meeting.

9. Watch for legal and ethical behavior. In some countries, government officials expect to receive extra fees from various companies before they approve government contracts. These payments are not illegal or unethical; they are simply routine aspects of life. However, the same payments are seen as bribes in the United States, Sweden, and many other countries. These payments are considered illegal and unethical.

10. Watch for language barriers. Although English is the most used language in international business, you cannot assume that everyone speaks it. When you deal with people who do not speak your language at all, you have options. Some of which include: learning their language, using an intermediary or translator, or teach them English. All have to be well thought out and or researched in advance. Learning as much as possible about another culture will facilitate your chances to communicate effectively with its members. Your abilities will be noticed if you read books and articles about the culture, and talk to people who have done business with the members of that particular culture. Concentrate on learning something about the culture’s history, religion, politics, values, and customs. Try to find out what the subcultures, business subculture, and rules of protocol are valid in a certain country.