CROSS-CULTURE

COMMUNICATION
By
VENKATESAN.T

The reasonable person adapts himself to the

world, while the unreasonable one persists
in trying to adapt the world to himself

What is a culture?
Culture is the "lens" through which you
view the world.
It is central to what you see,
How you make sense of what you see,
How you express yourself.

Four Fundamental Patterns of Cultural

Difference
What is different?
1. Communication Styles
2.

Attitudes toward conflicts

3.

Decision making style

4.

Approaches to knowing

Cross Culture Communication

Intercultural Communication is the process of
sending and receiving messages between people
whose cultural background could lead them to
interpret verbal and non-verbal signs differently.

Why Cross Culture

Communication is important ?
Globalization: Cross border movement of people, goods and
data brings more and more cultures into contact with one
another and increases the potential of cross culture
communication.

Business Opportunities
Job Opportunities
Improves the contribution of employees in a diverse
workforce
Sharing of views and ideas
Talent improvisation
An understanding of diverse market

High Context and Low Context Cultures

High Context Culture:- Cultures
that rely heavily on non-verbal and
subtle situational cues in
communication.
Low Context Culture:- Cultures
that rely heavily on words to
convey meaning in communication.

Eye Contact

In some cultures, looking people in the eye is assumed to indicate

honesty and straightforwardness; in others it is seen as
challenging and rude.

Cont

In USA, the cheapest, most

effective way to connect with people is
to look them into the eye.

Most people in Arab culture

share a great deal of eye contact and
may regard too little as disrespectful.

In English culture, a certain

amount of eye contact is required, but
too much makes many people
uncomfortable.

In South Asian and many other

cultures direct eye contact is generally
regarded as aggressive and rude.

Gesture:
A motion of the hands, head or body to emphasize an idea or
emotion.

USA=OK

RUSSIA=ZERO

JAPAN=MONEY

BRAZIL=INSULT

How can the same Gestures be treated differently in different

cultures

Blocks to Cultural Communication

1. Ethnocentrism : Inability to accept another culture's world
view;
"my way is the best."
2. Discrimination : Differential treatment of an individual due to
minority status; actual and perceived;
e.g., "we just aren't equipped to .Serve people like that."
3. Stereotyping : Generalizing about a person while ignoring
presence of individual difference;
e.g., "she's like that because she's Asian all Asians are nonverbal."

Cont
4.Cultural Blindness: Differences are ignored and one proceeds as
though differences did not exist; e.g., "there's no need to worry about a
person's culture
5.Cultural Imposition: Belief that everyone should conform to the
majority; e.g., "we know what's best for you, if you don't like it you can
go elsewhere."
6.Tone Difference : Formal tone change becomes embarrassing and offputting in some cultures.

Improving Cross Culture Communication

TEN Pre-cautions in Cultural

Communication
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

Slow Down
Separate Questions
Avoid Negative Questions
Take Turns
Write it down
Be Supportive
Check Meanings
Avoid Slangs
Watch the humor
Maintain Etiquette

DEVELOPING CROSS CULTURAL

COMMUNICATION SKILLS

"Tact is the ability to describe others as

they see themselves.
Abraham Lincoln

Skills To Overcome Differences

Respecting Differences and Working Together
Building Trust Across Cultural Boundaries
Understanding Body Language
Connecting with people

Business is not a one day match

Business in Todays Scenario is
not a National Match but is a
Olympics, where there are
International Players. Only that
Individual / Company can survive
which has done its homework
well & developed its uniqueness.